Couldn’t have said it any better, Gerry. Like all of us, a motivation for us to want to see Liverpool win the Premier League is to force tonnes of humble pies down these media scumbags’ throats with pleasure.

How dare they pick on a manager of a team that showed nerve to come from behind to win? How dare they not research the facts and situation before questioning his selection?

Wow first time I ever took 1st comment.

And as I type, King Kenny shows why he’s King by lambasting these media clowns.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163244090213-0824.htm

Though I was too young to ever see this legend play, I now revere him even more now. All you other so-called ex-Red players like Collymore and Lawro, watch and learn from the King!

Gerry , I was going to post a comment about what Benitez said in the last blog but I could not find a quote or see it repeated anywhere after the game. “Well if you know about football you will know that an attacker has to run a lot more than a defender.”

It really seemed to annoy not only the reporter but also the pundit in the studio.

The funny thing is though is that they said at half time that if Benitez can win this game it will confirm that he is a Genius, however, after the game they tried to ridicule him and make him out to be anything but.

All this negativity started when Allen Green about 15 years ago tried, at first to counter an argument that he was biased towards Liverpool, but now he has gone so far the other way I think it has become a virus that has spread to all broadcasters. They all now seem to be ignorant of the game and allergic to facts.

To see Fernando Torres goals never praised and yet all have come free open play, many of them beautifully executed, is beyond belief. Yet, according to the BBC, Sly Sports and Setanta (who still owe me money), we all have to appreciate Man U Goals and game however ugly and however Helped they are?

When Liverpool face an opponent we have to fight against the opposing team, media bias, commentator bias, referees and the FA. Have you ever seen a Liverpool’s players card overturned so quickly . . . neither have I.

Great Blog Gerry.

It’s an old chestnut… the media are against us.
But, unfortunatly it’s true.

I don’t know if you read Dion Fanning in the Sunday Indo, normally he writes quite well, bit last sunday he came out with the usual claptrap.

He actually said…
“Liverpool’s crisis continued last night as they moved back to the top of the Premier League.”

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/torres-sends-reds-to-top-1632472.html

I know it was slightly tongue in cheek, but still….

Gerry, I think Shitanta (great name) has over taken Sly sports in the anti LFC coverage. They are a fucking disgrace. Especially that Craig Burley who talks utter shite throughout the match! Now you all know that I have criticised Rafa and the team a lot but when I hear some cunt who is supposed to be neutral slag off my team and manager every minute of every game it pisses me right off. When we score you could hear the dissapointment in his voice. Lamenting the Pompey defending and not giving any credit to our play whatsoever. I’m sure he was creaming his pants when Pompey went 2-1 up, the bastard. This imbicile has gone beyond Andy Gray – he is far worse in my opinion. The guy never criticises Chelsea or Arsenal yet the league table tells us we’re fucking better than both of them. And who the fuck is Craig Burley anyway!?

Tim Sherwood is an absolute moron! Talks nothing but garbage. To be honest I only switch it on Setanta right on kick off. Then when the whistle goes for half time I turn the channel over. At full time I turn the channel over again. I can’t listen to those pundits talk dog shit any more. They are worse than Sky and that’s saying something.

I’m gonna write a letter or email and send it to Shitanta telling them that every LFC fan I know finds their coverage to be a disgrace!

You’re dead right about never seeing other manager’s of big clubs cross examined by the reporter. Rafa should tell them to fuck off. I feel he should be more agreesive with them. Like Gordan Strachan – who just tells a journo to do one.

I would Kevin Keegan LOVE IT if we won the league and Rafa shoved their nonsense up their arses.

Fair play Gerry for picking up on what Sherwood said after the game and the general crap being spouted week in week out on Setanta. Sherwood just confirmed that he can hardly string a sentence together let alone give relevant unbiased analysis. The really sad thing is at some level this must be the party line Setanta encourage and the fact that I have to pay to listen to these scumbags really doesn’t sit well. We will win the league eventually, even if its not this season, and I look forward to listening to the rats changing their tune then..

Great blog Gerry, and some very good posts in response already.

It does seem that the world and his wife are against Liverpool F.C (for some reason) and Rafa should be pinning all the negative press on the dressing room door with the firm message “Get out there and show these low life cretins boys, show them how good you are and how much you want this title”

Rafa’s starting line-up at Portsmouth WAS a huge gamble in my opinion, because if we had lost I feel our title challenge would be over. But, I also think what he did was very brave, and it DID pay off, so all’s well that ends well.

Starting against Man.City, the games will come thick and fast now and if we can finish the season as well as we started it, we still have a great chance of lifting number 19. I have a mental picture of us getting 3 points at Old Twatford 4 weeks tomorrow. I can see it, I can smell it and I WOULD FUCKING LOVE IT!

Given the fact that some players have played in almost every game, others are struggling with little niggles, or in the case of SG and Torres, returning from injuries that can easily be agravated…. pretty much every team selection for every game from now until the end of the season is going to be “a bit of a gamble.”

You gotta love the fact that, yes okay, we won it in injury time, with a substitute scorer, but virtually every report completely ignores the fact that we shoud have been 1 up from the sitter Babel missed, and had a legit goal disallowed! And all this while generally dominating play for the 90 minutes.

Its not conspiracy theory to think that if it were Man Utd wearing the red shirts that day, the reports would have been a comfortable win, showing the mark of champions, as a result of the indefatigable genius that is the knighted one!

but to behonest, I’m having so much fun watching Chelsea implode, I’ve really hardly payed any attention to all that bollocks.

Gerry, I was glad you pointed out the revelation of Aurelio in midfield. I didn’t wanna go on about it, but his passing was very measured and he always seemed to have time. There is nothing wrong with the add surprise line-up anyway. I was perplexed by the line up, but it was a very attacking set-up, which answered the criticism (from myself included) of a safety first game plan. In fact, the only problem as I mentioned in the last postings, was Ngog thrown in at the deep end, he just couldn’t hold the ball up. So what we can take from this, is that the three-man back-four should be more drilled next time out, and we could have El Nino back in.

Regarding the media bias, during the game they kept mentioning that Pompey were playing like the away team, and not a mention of our attacking play. The way Rafa was spoken to was disrespectful. O’Neill and Taggart would never get asked that. I don’t know if anyone remembers Dalglish being interviewed when manager, but after listening to the inane question from the pitch-side plonker, he would look up to eye-ball the reporter with a Mona Lisa smile, pause and throw the question back at the “reporter” as only the canny wee Scot could. There was a post-match interview of a game he’d just scraped, and I can’t remember whether he was manager for us or Blackburn, but he gave a classic stating-the-obvious reply after the reporter questioned there ability to score and Kenny said something like, “well we just have to score one more than they do”, and that line was the answer to every other question the reporter had ready to ask. He just had that way of making you feel like you were the dumbest question, and you were a fool for not knowing the answer in the first place. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa51FVb6QPg

He could also just crank up the scottish twang.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcZWhDVbsho
I think the media bias is just a badge I’ll wear, and something that is a source of amusement. As long as Ferguson is looking over his shoulder, we’re doing alright.

Now, now Aitch don’t mock the afflicted. Things might become less fishy at the Bridge now that Guus Haddock is taking over.

Check this link out guys, sounds very tasty indeed, David Villa to Liverpool?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/123763-david-villa-to-liverpool-looks-likely-on-the-the-table

Yummmyyyy

Nice one, Gerry. Just hope old Guus doesen’t start “carping” on about how unlucky Chelsea are.

A win @ Greyskull is a must next month.Does anyone else think Riera is overrated?.I reckon he is the worst of the 4 or 5 (if you include Agger)left sided players @ the club.If Rafa steers clear of Lucas and plays 2 strikers (excluding Gerrard), then the team can finish as strongly as in ’02 when they won 13 out of their last 15 prem games.

Burgerman, I certainly agree with you that a win a Man.U next month is a must if we want the title.

Regarding Riera, I think he has done O.K since his arrival without pulling up any trees. He started very well, and then his form dipped and he has been a bit patchy since then but he does give our attack another dimension, and with both Stevie and Xabi missing the Man.City game next Sunday, a good performance from Riera could be key. I’d like to see him get to the dead ball line a bit more and put in some telling crosses a bit more often.

Don’t be looking for Rafa to play 2 strikers at Man.U, it ain’t gonna happen. I reckon Torres will be on his own up front with Stevie (hopefully fit well before then) joining in with others when they can.

while riera has not been pulling up trees recently individually, i think his contribution of a true left winger presence provides a valuable addition to the overall shape of the team. countless times this season, he has hugged the touchline and been available for a long cross-field pass to switch the point of attack and open the game up. he has provided that bith of width in our midfield that we really havent had at all on the left for years.

in addition, he is wonderful with the ball at his feet, and is one of the few people in the squad that can actually take defenders on individually and beat them.

he was great in the beginning of the year, as some have said, and we must remember that not only does every player go through “slumps” – but this is his first year with us…he is still getting accustomed to the league/team/tactics/pace of game/playing for a big club, etc. i personally think he has been a good buy for sure. 9 million is 6 million less than david bentley, and i wouldn’t say he’s performing any worse than him.

YNWA

Burgerman, Riera worst of the left sided players???? and even Agger??? are you blind?

Sure Riera aint Ronaldo but i think people have underated him. Riera doesnt give away possession easily, he also holds and protects the ball very well. In fact i think he has provided great balance to the team in general.

Did anyone see those long cross-field passes to to Arbeloa from Agger during the Pompey game?
Since when has Agger been long enough playing on the left to be evaluated?

Morning lads, I’ve got a sneaky feeling Aggers of in the summer. Making noise in all the wrong places. Very good player but maybe we just need other positions filled. Who knows.
.
Well the Voronin thing is rearing it’s ugly head, the lads scoring goals, 3 in 2 games, his team now top of the league. I believe he’s got about 8 in 15 starts. Well maybe he’ll be back, maybe he won’t but you would expect some type of fee if Berlin want to keep him. May well end up a good bit of business.
.
Back to Agger, after a year out with injury he should shut up and concentrate on getting back in the team. I think Rafa has identified, Agger, Turtel, and Carra all struggle in the air, hence why Sami has had so many games.
.
You only have to look at how many set pieces we have had go in to see our ariel presence is sad.
.
However in saying that, Agger does offer his presence in attacking corners, so he good going one way not the other.
.
Come on Agger if you want to be the future, forget about the past and get on with it.

By CHRIS BASCOMBE, 14/02/2009
STEVEN GERRARD is winning his battle to be fit for Liverpool’s Champions League tie with Real Madrid.

And there was more good news for Kop fans with Rafa Benitez expected to sign his delayed £16million contract ‘within days’.

Gerrard is likely to miss next weekend’s Premier League visit of Manchester City due to hamstring trouble. But his sights remain firmly on the trip to the Bernabeu on February 25 and he has responded well to treatment.

He will be given until the last moment to prove he can travel to Spain.

Benitez and Liverpool co- owner Tom Hicks completed negotiations last night on the manager’s new deal which will tie him to the club until 2013.

Benitez had earlier rejected FOUR drafts of the deal as he demanded more control over the club’s transfer policy. And although he will still be accountable to the board for future signings, he has won many of the concessions he was asking for.

An Anfield source said: “The final issues have been ironed out. It’s hoped Rafa will sign within a few days.”

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/177588/STEVEN-GERRARD-WINNING.html

Was reading the Irish Sunday World this morning and there’s an article which has annoyed me, to put it lightly. Normally I don’t really care what journalists say but this ‘reporter’ Roy Curtis has spent two pages lauding Slur Alex up to high heaven while criticising Rafa.

“Comparisons between Ferguson and Rafa Benitez bring an aggressive Scouse inferiority complex to the surface, yet they are instructive…”

“Where Benitez is the aloof schoolmaster unwilling or unable to ever sweet-talk his students, Fergie is the chameleon brilliantly alternating between the disciplinarian and the tutor who shares a smoke…”

“The veteran Scot is a master of psychology, has an understanding of the world beyond football. He is a multi-dimensional character – charmer, bully, philosopher, aesthete – who studies and has a natural empathy with his fellow human beings.
The one dimensional Benitez studies and is interested only by the coaching manual. The part of football he seems not to enjoy is the footballers.”

“Ferguson can make a player feel like he’s worth a hundred million dollars even as he drops him. Benitez can make a player feel worthless even as he enjoys his finest hour.”

“Benitez can’t even find it in himself to drop in the odd positive adjective in front of Gerrard’s name. Now it is well known that the Liverpool skipper is needy, craves acclaim and is grossly insecure, but Fergie would recognise these traits and baby-feed Gerrard his daily ration of praise.”

And on he goes. The guy must have a picture of Slur Alex on his mantelpiece and says a prayer to it every night.

michaelthomasmademecry , i think he does more than that over Fergie. What a tosser!!!

It’s nice to know our gaffer let’s all the press guys into Anfield, at any moment of the day, so that they can see exactly how he prepares/treats the players.

These guys do not have the faintest idea what goes on, so they can make up crap! Another idiot to add to the blacklist.

oh my god! the poor hard done by mancs have been given a questionable offside call in their cup tie!!! oh the shame, did they not get the memo from the FA?!!

i have never heard commentators go on and on about a decision like that one… it’s not even a 100% clear decision, its very borderline.

and then to add to it, utd do get their second goal thanks to a played being 5 yards offside and blocking the goalkeepers vision. he jumps over the ball to allow it into the corner of the goal.

still, the linesman should be ashamed of himself. did he forget who he was refereeing today?! unacceptable mistake from an official. he should be fired on the spot.

YNWA

…*player being 5 yards…*

Based on their performance against Portsmouth, we could be playing Man City at the rght time. They look to be imploding.
What a completely abject display by Citeh? Mind you, Portsmouth weren’t much better.
I’ve honestly seen better pub games!

Conversely, let’s hope the loss to Everton sparks Aston Villa, whose charge ont he top 4 spot will now be a priority. They may be able to help us out greatly with results against both Scum and Chelsea.

What is going on with our club, just when you think things are carming down and we can retian some focus this appears?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0216/1233867938666.html

It may be written as a quote but who is Benitez talking too?

Part of it also appears here.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1146102/Benitez-Im-dead-worried-new-Liverpool-deal.html?ITO=1490

and here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/feb/16/liverpool-rafael-benitez-wants-new-contracts

And if you read all 3 articles carefully, you’ll see that supposed Benitez “quotes” are actually worded in 3 different ways.
So WHAT did he ACTUALLY say??

Similarly in response to gaz’s comment above regarding Agger’s supposed comments int he media… there is an article on the Echo website which quotes Jan Molby as saying he has spoken to Agger and he has no desire to leave Liverpool.
Molby goes on to suggest that Agger was probably asked if he likes being on the bench and if he didn’t get back into the team would he leave… and then his answers were rearranged into “Agger issues ultimatum” when he was just answering a question asked!

Great blog as usual Gerry, but are you surprised at the media’s negative reporting? Yes we have always had a biased slant with regards to the reporting with the media center’s being in Manchester and London, but when our own supporters question, criticize, boo and come out with comments about team selection, defensive tactics and we will never win the Prem under Rafa and all the other vitriolic phone ins after draws and perceived bad results it is not surprising that the media pick up on it, add to it and inflame the situation. The only good news is bad news syndrome and what better way to stir the shit than by feeding the flames. Think of all the comments on this site and this is one of the more pro Rafa sites (sometimes) but that has not stopped some pretty harsh and over the top criticism, not to mention some sweeping statements and denouncements. So is it any surprise that it is appearing more and more in the press. Kuyt is shite, Lucas is not good enough to wear a red shirt and I can go on and on. This is Rafa’s team with the exception of Carra, Gerrard and Sammie, he brought them in, yes they might not all be his first and sometimes even second or thrid choices but they are the best he could get within the constraints he has had to work under, so when we boo and make the comments we do about selection and formation and players we are just giving the media more sticks to beat Rafa with and to undermine the team with. Yes you can label me for being very pro Rafa and yes he confuses me with team selections, formations and substitutes some of the time, however where I might not agree with him in certain instances on the whole he gets it right more often than not, hence the reality of us sitting in second spot challenging at the business end of things. Who is the better placed person to select the right team, us with our armchair expertise with no clue as to what the players are feeling or what physical condition they are in or Rafa and his coaching staff who works with them every day. Rafa has never been the shrinking violet when it comes to getting rid of players that do not, in his opinion, offer the right mix of skills to take us forward. So yes I support the players and the formation and the tactics he puts out on the pitch and defend it to all comers that want to jump on the media band wagon because that is what a supporter, again in my opinion, should do. The day that I feel he no longer offers us a realistic chance of reaching the pinnacle will be the day that I will call for a change. For me he is the best manger since Paisley, but more in the Shankly, in terms of team rebuilding, mold. What he has accomplished in the short time he has been here is to set us on the right course for the next decade that once we reach the top (I am not writing off this year) we will continue and stay there and hopefully will not be in the same situation as Chelsea with an aging squad and a merry go round policy of Managers. All this has been accomplished within a financial budget that places us down in 7th place in the spending stakes. That is reality No. I am talking facts here No. It’s about time we, the support in supporters, live up to YNWA and the title of the most knowledgeable fans in the world.

Daily Telegraph Article today:

Rafa Benitez ready to seal new Liverpool deal after taking care of backroom men
The future of Rafa Benitez’s coaching staff has added to the delay in the Liverpool manager finally signing a three-year extension to his contract.

The future of Rafa Benitez’s coaching staff has added to the delay in the Liverpool manager finally signing a three-year extension to his contract.

The Spaniard is expected to put pen to paper before next week’s Champions League tie with Real Madrid on a deal which will tie him to Anfield until 2013 after months of wrangling with the club’s owners.

Personal terms were agreed months ago but it was thought Benitez’s demands to have full control over his transfer budget and recruitment to the club’s Academy had brought negotiations to a standstill.

But Benitez revealed on Sunday that securing long-term offers for his trusted lieutenants had been of more importance, issues that are thought to have been worked out with Tom Hicks and George Gillett in the last two weeks.

He said: “Here in England, having a year left on your contract is nothing at all. When people realise the manager only has a year and half left, he is dead. I’ve got 10 or 12 assistants whose contracts are up in June. How can a manager lead a project properly if the continuity of his staff is not secure for two or three years?

“I never asked for complete control [of transfer budgets]. I did ask for the power to be able to make my own
decisions and run the team the way I see fit. That is not the same thing.” That is likely to mean a contract is signed which will see Benitez allowed to divide a budget set by the board, a liberty enjoyed by most Premier League managers but an issue close to Benitez’s heart after a problem at Valencia.

This should end speculation linking Benitez with a return to Real Madrid. He said: “I hope to be here for a long time but Madrid would be the perfect ending for anyone’s career. But my career is not at an end yet.”

Good read that KeithSA.

Fuck our Rafas a cagey hoor isnt he?! Talks about how he wants to stay at Anfield for a long time and in the next breath calls Madrid ‘the icing on the cake’ and ‘of course Real Madrid would be the perfect ending to anyones career’. While just falling short of an all out come and get me its not the subtlest game of footsie i’ve ever seen either. Look, im not naive, i know its not personal its just business but as i’ve said before sometimes Rafa can be and awfully chatty cathy and it dosent help his cause.

How about Jason Scotland (Swansea striker) and Mc Geady to Anfield next season.6 mill would secure both.The former has scored 15 goals this season and is a real handful.Scored a peach V Fulham on Sat.Is Degen still alive?.

To be honest I wouldn’t blame Rafa for going to Real Madrid. I agree with Digger that there is no need for the public ‘footsie’. Didn’t Ronaldo do the same thing last season? Rafa should be smart enough to know however that at Real Madrid there will be interference from the board over signings and the pressure to play attacking sexy football and win EVERY game will be even more intense than it is at Anfield. Guus Hiddink was sacked after 3 months. Del Bosque got fired a month after winning the Champions Leage. Schuster got fired after winning La Liga. They’ve just won 10 leage games in a row and Ramos is constantly criticised because they are not winning convincingly enough.

KeithSA wrote a good post above but I doubt Rafa will ever get better support by any fan base than what he gets at LFC.

KeithSA, you’re a dead right about the meeja bias that we have to contend with, and like I say, it’s almost a badge of honour for us Koppites. And yes 100%, that supporters should support when the Reds are out on the pitch and battling it out for #19. But can’t we come in here and agree to disagree respectfully? Isn’t that what phone-in shows and forums are for.

I do not agree for a second that Rafa is best manager since Paisley. Come on dude, King Kenny, Joe Fagan… not at *least* as good as Kenny and Joe iyho??

Burgerman, this summer I’d like one major signing. I know some of the lads were of the opinion the money for Robbie Keane wouldn’t be a part of any transfer kitty but I disagree. We spent £20m or whatever it was for Keane so I’d think if we sold him (which we did) that money would be used for a replacement. So I’d use that money as a down payment on a major transfer in the mould of David Silva. We’ll need a right back as well and that’s it.

Good post KeithSA, but just one point I’d like to take you up on. You mentioned the media picking up on the negative vibes of some “supporters” bitching about the team on phone-ins etc and various other supporters criticising tactics, the boss and calling players shite etc on this and various other websites.
This is of course true to a certain extent but as I’m sure you’ll agree, we are by no means unique in that regard.
I know manc fans who were screaming for Fungie’s head at the start of the season but now think he’s a God. I know Arse fans who figure Wenger has lost the plot and should be kicked out before he does more damage and let’s not forget how quickly those nouveau chav fans turned on Scholari.
I take your point and I’d much rather see our fans rise above this kind of behaviour but that just seems to be the way of the world these days, some “supporters” want success to be like their favourite coffee, instant! And when they don’t get it they throw their rattles out of the pram.
But I don’t think any of that really relates to the extra bashing our club gets in the media. It certainly doesn’t help us, but if a certain section of every club’s fans indulge in this kind of ranting and raving then the media can cherry-pick and give every club a certain amount of stick, but in my view they still insist on throwing the boot into our club far more then any other team.

I don’t think Rafa would consider going to Real Madrid for the reasons LB mentioned namely; Interference from the board and he knows that’s a gimme. He’s a Real man and he will probably retire back to Madrid so he’s just keeping them sweet and maybe leaving an opening just in case anything goes wrong at Anfield like he gets the sack.

I think Rafa will look at signing 1 or 2 players of real quality and maybe a couple of youngsters. We are now at the stage of adding 1 or 2 class players.

No manager gets better support than the LFC manager.

Cheers guys, let me just clarify a couple of points and that is, I hold Liverpool supporters above all others, as we have consistently proved time and again. I really don’t care how the other teams supporters treat their Manager it just was never the Liverpool way. Apart from Fagen forced resignation (Heysel was a special circumstance) we have always given every Manager a good shot at getting things right and only when it was apparent that is was not working where they given the Thanks very Much.

There could have been and probably was some bitching and moaning (after the Kenny era not much to complain about before although there where a few grumbles when Kenny bought David Speedy), but the internet and media coverage has exposed and exaggerated this to the extreme in today’s world.

I have no problems with debating and criticizing constructively on the forums that’s what makes things interesting and nobody will ever agree on everything. There is a way, as supporters, to do it and retain the dignity that is Liverpool. To phone in after a match and say this one and that one is shite and Rafa has lost the plot etc, etc for me is not he Liverpool Way. To boo the players on the pitch is not the Liverpool Way. They are the best we have at the moment and yes they can have off days as can the Manager. Reira being a point in view, started really well, has struggled of late, mainly, I think because of the extra demands of the Prem from a physical point of view and needs to have a good preseason to build up his stamina. All of a sudden people are questing if he is good enough.

What I was trying to say the media already love it that we have not won anything for a long time, are all to keen to stick it too us and latch on to every bit of bad publicity that they can drag up. By giving them the ammunition of the booing and the ranting, vindicates their point of view because it can be justified that even the Liverpool supporters are sick of the Tickerman, rotation, defensive formation and certain players being preferred to others. I know it is the sign of the times and everybody is impatient for number 19, but ask yourself, with the position we are in, does it warrant all the negative criticism from some of the fans, forget the media, that is being dished out towards Rafa and the team? If our own fans can do it vindictively, why should we be surprised if the already biased media increase the vitriol and attacks on us? Number 19 and a CL cup will stuff it ever so nicely right down their throats. I also don’t think it is too far off from the realms of possibilities to think like that. A bridge to far to early, time will tell, but it is defiantly an improvement that most of us wanted at the start of the season.

To answer the King Kenny question, yes the greatest player to ever wear the red shirt, inherited the best squad ever, won everything going and managed the team superbly for that short period of time, but was responsible for the demise of Liverpool by not planning for the future and when he quit we had an aging squad which Souness tried to fix too quickly and too ruthlessly and we never recovered…. until know, also not helped by the Moors, Parry regime.

I love the fact that our fans, who should as Keith suggest KNOW BETTER, start formulating opinions on what Rafa (or whever) said in an article they’ve read, without for a minute questioning the quote, or the context within which it was made.
Like, the media doesn’t twist the fuck out of what people say to generate a salacious headline?

All the quotes coming from Rafa, were taken from a translation into English, of an interview rafa did for the Spanish media. (and they’ve been worded in different ways in different papers, so who knows what he actually said?)

Here is the question and subsequent answer (translated of course, so there is some room for error even in this)

Q. Madrid would be the icing on the cake, the climax on your career?

A.- If I say yes, some people will interpret it as me saying I want to go; if I say no it will seem like a snub to Madrid…The proper thing and the reality is to answer that I’m not thinking about leaving and I hope I can stay here for a long time. Would Madrid be the icing on the cake in the career of any manager? No doubt about it! Although that sounds like the final stages of someone’s profession and that isn’t my case.

Digger and LB… read that first line carefully before accusing him of coyly courting Madrid… remembering that had he said “No Comment” or “I’m concentrating on coaching my Liverpool team” he’d have been accused of being petulent.

For any English manager, the pinnacle would be either LFC or Scum.
So we like to think he should be saying that LFC is the pinnacle, but the man is Spanish… for him Madrid would be the pinnacle.
I think that’s reasonable, No?

the fact of the matter Aitch and Keith is this – that Rafa has always been in a guilty-unless-proven-innocent mode even from sections of the Liverpool fans and in my PERSONAL opinion, thats an absolute pity.

que sera sera.
YNWA

Aitch, apparently there is always ‘some room for error’ no matter the circumstance when it comes to Rafa from some quarters. And I’ve come to expect that now regardless of whether the incident is deserving of criticism or not. So be it. It is what it is as Rafa would say. But look at that question and answer again and imagine that was Stevies answer instead of Rafas…..Ahhh, things look a little less Rafa tinted now? Gimme a break Aitch, it’d be a case of dead man walking, lynching at dawn…

A bit off-topic but Eduardo’s just scored for the Arse. They look a different outfit with him linking the attack.

Fair play to the lad after such a bad injury. Good to see a decent player back in action. Although I hope he is injured (nothing serious) when we meet then at Anfield.

This would be the same Stevie G. that regardless of how much adoration was poured upon him by the fans and the fact that he had just won a CL medal with us, very nearly DID JUMP SHIP for Chelsea, because he felt “unloved” ???
Maybe its you that should give me a break Dig?

There’s some room for error in any sports news report, not just those that deal with Rafa. (I refer you to my earlier post regarding Agger’s supposed “ultimatum”)

If I’m constantly defending Rafa, it’s not coz I’m a fully paid up member of the Gag On Rafa’s Tackle Brigade, but because, in my opinion, a lot of the criticism isn’t well thought out, supported, or at all even handed… and NO room for error is awarded Rafa from some quarters, no matter the circumstances.

And for the record, people who follow Rafa blindly and see no problem in anything he does are as equally at fault as those who look for any reason to criticize the man.

Reality lies somewhere in the middle.

Aitch, What’s the point in carefully reading any line of that rafa “quote” when, as you quite rightly point out, we don’t have a frigging clue whether he actually said it or not??

In this circumstance, analysing the words that we see is futile, no?

I believe that Rafa (or anyone else for that matter) has said something when I see and hear them say it. They can’t say that it was taken out of context then, can they?

I believe Rafa said “we will need to win almost all of our games now” after the victory at Fratton Park because I heard and saw him say it!

Oh what a difference a game makes. When Liverpool are on Setanta the commentators are negative and every pass and tackle is scrutinised and criticised. However, if its Arsenal, the atmosphere is jovial and every pass is beautiful. When Arsenal nearly scored a third goal, the commentators say what a beautiful shot etcetera… Not a mention that there were at least two blatant handballs.

Aitch spot on mate:
“who follow Rafa blindly and see no problem in anything he does are as equally at fault as those who look for any reason to criticize the man”

Digger mate you clearly have an issue with Rafa, no matter the circumstance he will always be blames by yourself. We are just talking about how the media can be (ie with agger’s comments) and you choose to ignore it because it was Rafa and in his case whatever the media says is correct and a true reflection of events.

Digger you also said:
“apparently there is always ’some room for error’ no matter the circumstance when it comes to Rafa from some quarters. And I’ve come to expect that now regardless of whether the incident is deserving of criticism or not”

You have to be the complete opposite then, no matter the situation you are always against the manager.

Aitch as far as the SG/ Chelshit thing goes he took 60% pay of what Chavs were
offering ,to stay at LFC. Of all the World class players he’s probably the lowest paid .
Coupled with the fact we didnt have to buy him in the first place and RP wanted
to make a huge bonus by selling him and then probably replace him with sh*te.
consequently I think SG as shown his true colours by staying and never was going
to leave it was just haggling for a pay rise. ( somewhere near his true worth)
One day i think we will see a Gerrard / Carra combo as managers of LFC
now that would be something.
YNWA

Whilst walking through the supermarket on Sunday my 9 year old son covered the S*N newspaper with a pile of other newspapers,
i asked him “why have you done that ”
he replied “because they tell lies about Liverpool don’t they”
If he can see it,it must be obvious THE MEDIA LIE

YNWA

Yes Aitch thats the very same Stevie. The very same one who NEVER wanted to leave Liverpool but was very nearly forced to leave by the stupid fuckers that constituted our powers that be at that time, who decided to put Stevie on the long finger in the aftermath of Istanbul. Yep Aitch its the same Stevie who went to Anfield to sign his contract the week after Istanbul but found that P.Rick Parry was on vacation yet had found time to sort out Didi Hamanns contract but not that of our victorious leader in Istanbul. The same one Aitch. And for the record Stevie has never felt ‘unloved’ by the Anfield faithful, it was the Anfield HIERARCHY he felt unloved by, not us. He knew we wanted him for life but the board and even Rafa at the time? Not so much. Look Aitch I’m sure you’ve read his book and we all know the ins and outs of it at this stage but for what its worth check out the chapter that chronicles this incident again and put yourself in his shoes while reading it. Would you say the board were desperately trying to sign the guy or hedging their bets? Fucken disgraceful example of some of the worst and almost perhaps costliest incompetence witnessed at Anfield yet. And check out Rafa’s role in the incident too Aitch, hardly a saint methinks. And Stevie, unimpressed, thought similar. Anyway, I digress, dident wanna go down the ‘ol Stevie road but it gets me everytime. So I guess what I’m saying is Aitch I stand by my statement, if Stevie came out with that answer it would be a massacre, forget about it, lynching at dawn as I said. And you know what? Rightly so. Stevies our leader on the field and if he openly flirted with another club a la Rafa there would be hell to pay. Rafas our leader off the field but he gets a free pass? Double standard of the highest order methinks. The reality is Aitch he should have given your petulent ‘I just concentrate on my team’ answer not that theres anything petulent about it. Thats exactly what he should have said. He’s one of us, no matter what his plans for the future and he should be fully focused on us not blowing kisses at Madrid. I mean am I the only one who things it was bang out of order?!

Akka, I can see why you would think I’m always against the manager honestly! But believe me that is not the case. It probably appears so because I’m one of maybe two, possibly three, lads on this blog who criticize Rafa when he deserves criticism. Admittedly it may be pointed and a little ascerbic but when things like the dropping Alonso for the Fulham game or playing Dirk upfront alone at the brittania, or the yammering in the press last month, or the subbing of stevie in the Wigan game, cost us points, then yes, I can be particularly biting in my criticism. These are things that were avoidable and I grind my teeth and let fly! So I can see where your coming from but when your almost a lone voice its possible that my criticisms stand out a little more. I dont go out of my way to criticise Rafa and I wouldent have criticized him today except for one thing; he said something he shouldent have and I felt it was disrespectful to us and the club. Yet only 2 people on here today have called him on it. Explain that one to me mate.
So Madrid would be the ‘icing on the cake’ for you then Rafa would they? Am I being critical Akka? Am I?……

imho, Rafa should just have laughed and said something like – ‘as Liverpool manager, it is not for me to speculate as to how my career might end. You guys in the press can do that all you like, but I’m here as LFC manager first and foremost, and anything that happens at any other club is none of my business’. You see, if Madrid did here back that Rafa blanked them in a Spanish paper, they’d get over it very quickly if Rafa did become a free agent. They don’t have any consistencies in their managerial affairs at the Bernabau at all. Hire Capello – win league – sack Capello. Hire Capello – win league – sack Capello. Even if rafa said he never wanted to set foot in the Bernabau after the CL game, they would still take him on if he was free. Rafa was led along, but he took the bate a little bit. I do feel for Rafa with all these guys waiting to pounce on his every word though.

Ah, Aitch beat me to it in quoting the (translated) original interview in #40.

http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/futbol-extrana-raul-siga-jugando/dasftb/20090215dasdaiftb_59/Tes

Absolutely unbelievable some of you guys quickly jump to conclusions based on the mistranslation that Rafa “thinks” going to Real is “icing on the cake”. When in fact it’s actually the reporter that’s suggesting it, while Rafa politely deflects the question.

Here’re two more interesting response, translated (No guarantee on their accuracies, refer to source and get a Spanish dictionary if you have any doubts)

Q: United and Chelsea have a lot more money than Liverpool. Even City now.

A: United get a revenue of 65 mil euros more than us every year and they have the capability of buying three 20 million players every season. Chelsea will have spent £500 million over the past five years. We have built an entire team but economically we’re inferior and yet we are able to compete with them. There are plenty of stats to bore you with: United, only on Berbatov, spent 32 million pounds; every year they spend as they need to: 20 mil on Hargreaves, another 20 on Nani, 18 for Anderson. Seven years ago they spent 45 for Ferdinand! I, on the five years I’ve been here, spent less than 40 on Torres and Keane. There’s no discussion!

Q: And Alex Ferguson?

A: He controls everything here, it’s a fact, it is what it is. And since he felt the need to talk about Liverpool I had to respond.

Brilliant response concerning Mister Ferguscum.

That’s strange, I posted a comment and it’s nowhere to be seen. Is it because of the Scumking (aka “Kopking”) Incident that all comments are to be moderated by Gerry beforehand?

Please please please get Agger hi contract sorted.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/593/juventus/2009/02/17/1113016/juventus-the-latest-to-move-for-liverpools-agger

That’s an awful lot of justification for Stevie “hedging his bets” Digger… his agent was discussing terms for fucks sake.

On the other hand, what appears to be a simple answer to a question posed by a Spanish reporter in a Spanish sports rag, is Rafa disrespectfully “winking in the direction of Real”

Talk about your double standards!

You ask me how I would have felt in SG’s shoes…
I can tell you one thing… if I’d made it to the LFC first team and scored goals in front of the Kop and felt that adulation, I wouldn’t be considering a move to Chelsea for a fraction of a second.
He was on good money at the time, regardless of what others were making and if LFC didn’t offer him a contract, he wasn’t gonna end up on the unemployment line… or being sold to anywhere he didn’t want to go. And if he’d ridden out his contract, and they then didn’t offer him a new one, he could have walked for McMannaman money, so he was completely in the driving seat.

And finally, if someone then burned my shirt in front of Melwood, I’d be fuckin devastated, not “not really bothered” by it (and yes, that is a direct quote from a tv interview at the time.)

Kinny and anyone else who may have experienced delays with their posts appearing recently. One of the reasons the site was down for a few days a couple of weeks ago, was spam related. So when the techie guys got us up and running again they upgraded the back office system to make things more secure and ensure we don’t experience the same problem again. One of the side-affects of this is that when you put a link in your post, the system will hold it until I log in to approve or delete it. This is just to make extra sure that no spam gets through. Apologies if it causes an inconvenience but I think its for the best.

I heard that pepe wants to go back to Athletico Madrid by the end of the season….

from the Rumour mill in Guardian.co.uk

Hope this is not true..

and Liverpool buying Glen Johnson for 9 million quids…Is it Rafa or Dick Parry?

Btw, Degen still alive?

Great post Atich and Akka, the double standards by some on this blog is unbelievable. Rafa started his career at Madrid, the same as Gerrard did at Liverpool to compare them going to do a swansong (those are debatable words in the context they where spoken) at Madrid bears no comparison and to try and link the two by comparison is something I would have expected from Sly Sport or Shittanna and typical of the unfounded baize towards Rafa.

Nobody is asking anybody to be a Rafa sycophantic or expect you to think he walks on water (with the holes in his feet he has a problem) but if you purport to be a Liverpool supporter give the man credit for what he has done and for what he has accomplished within the context that he has found himself and within the financial means he has found himself.

The relish with which some people on this blog lay into him at every perceived mistake, comment, judgement call is getting quite distasteful. Fine you have every right not to like him as a manager, that after all is the new byword for sprouting undiluted crap, “I am allowed an opinion” then nail your colours to the mast and say sack him he is not good enough, instead of this insidious sniping at every opportunity. Have the balls to do it and back it up with realistic and intelligent discussion and not from articles taken out of context that are so obviously media shit stirring it is a joke, yet supposed Liverpool fans lap it up as proof that Rafa does not belong at Liverpool.

I have stopped reading any article related to Liverpool from certain sources because they are blatant lies and twisting of the fact, to use them as ammunition to have a pop at the Boss speaks volumes of where your mind set is.

Is there a Tv channel or website showing the City game?.Losing Agger for 2 mill is sacrilege!.Another howler from Parry?.Guillembalague.com carries a lot of info from Rafa.

Great post St. keithsa! Right as always! Btw that article was translated by one of OURS on OUR main site. How insidious! Look if you want to blithely ignore the obvious once again and play the lost in translation card then knock yourself out but do those of us who can see something for what it is a favour and lay off the verbal castrations eh?! I got balls a plenty brother!

Digger, comparing Gerrard making the same quote as Rafa is completely unfair. Stevie is a life-long Red, born and bred. And as a player he has a very distinct career-span which realistically has about 5 years left in at at the highest level. It is not unrealistic for a fan to expect him to stay at the club his whole career, albeit with great respect and admiration for doing so.

On the other hand Rafa was imported to the club after having previously coached 5 other clubs (I believe). He started his career at Real and his combined time there as a manager and a player outweighs his time at Liverpool. It is highly unlikely, and unrealistic, to expect him to see out his managerial career at Anfield – that could be another 15 plus years. Yes I know Fergie has done it, but he’s a rare case (and has the support of his board I might add).

Rafa’s time at Anfield will come to an end at some stage and I fully expect him to manage Real Madrid one day. And when he does, I’ll wish him all the best. What do you want him to do, kiss the badge on his chest and claim to have been a life-long Liverpool fan?

I don’t think it was out of order for Rafa to say what he did digger. There are plenty of players or managers who have said similar things. Roy Keane often said he thought he’d play for Celtic before he finished his career, no one can say he didn’t give his all for manure and everybody knows he was a celtic man. I honestly do believe that Rafa and his family love life in Liverpool, it is quite similar in temprament to Spain and he has spoke on many occasions that his wife Montse and his children love the people and the city and that his children have scouse accents. I also believe him when talks about the fans support and that is like no other.

Keith, the venom I detect in the tone of some of your posts is a bit un called for. Digger didn’t like Rafa’s comment and has given a quite thought out and detailed reason as to why. If you don’t agree with that point of view that’s fine but is there any need for talking about the ‘relish’ ‘some people’ on this site have in laying into Rafa? Lacking balls, and not offering realistic or intelligent discussion? Mate you need to realise that just because you don’t agree with it doesn’t make it an unacceptable point of view.

Keith, despite our vast differing of opinions I’ve often enjoyed reading your posts as when your in more of a less venomus mood you offer a nice balance to what might be making my blood boil at the time.

Some fans dislike Rafa’s philosophy and will criticise it when it rears its ugly head such as the team being too cautious and functional, subbing off Gerrard, playing players out of position and so on. My point is if you are not a fan of this fundemental philosophy you will criticise it every time it grates on your nerves. It is not a personal vendetta against Rafa or blindly gobbling up what the media feed us. On the other hand if you are a fan of this philosophy or you’re neutral towards it you’ll be more tolerant to those things and so less likely to come in here and let rip! Fans who are stalwort Rafa supporters and love his methods and philosophy will be angered by the criticism he gets and will at every opportunity defend him to the hilt. The relish at saying to fellow supporters “I told you so” or “I’m going to stuff that humble pie down your throat” is incredible! As if you deserve to be more satisfied than us because you actually like or believed in the manager more.

This time last year I wanted Rafa’s head on a plate and wasn’t afraid to demand it because I genuinely thought we were going backwards since 2006. Now however I do believe we’ve made progress but at the same time I’m still against a lot of his philosophies. I won’t be calling for his head because he could win us the title. Calling for a manager’s head while the team is still in the hunt for a title is rather stupid. My intelligence doesn’t give me enough reason to suggest he should be sacked. However there is a lot he does that makes me moan and feel the need to vent my anger and frustration.

Regarding the Rafa and Real Madrid thing I see both points of view to be honest. Reading the translation of that interview suggests to me that Rafa doesn’t want to be seen to snub Real Madrid. As far as I’m concerned you wouldn’t care about snubbing another club if you didn’t have a desire to go there in the next few years. I don’t have a problem with Rafa wanting to coach Real one day, I don’t have a problem with him being fed up at LFC and wanting to leave in the summer but at the same time I don’t want to read interviews during the business end of the season of him flirting with the idea of going – especially when he’s rejected 4 contracts already this season.

The Gerrard situation was different. I hated him when I thought he was going to Chelsea and actually smiled with relish when I saw that fan burning his shirt. Born and bred in Liverpool, just won the CL and still considering leaving!? I wanted him to fuck off, I won’t lie.

LB, I fully agree with your sentiments regarding how a critical opinion of Rafa can still merge with the club to be triumphant. It’s true that it makes little sense to be wishing Rafa to leave with us being a true title contender. My view is, (and I’ve said it before) is that it’s not a greedy or unrealistic desire for us to be doing even better this season. Real Madrid are big boys, and know how the media game is played. So when a potential future managers snubs them because his current team are close to taking a title, they know that it should be taken with a pinch of salt. And Rafa knows this too, he’s not a dummy jumping from one foot to the other not knowing what to say and when to say it. But at the same time, there are the fans that are blowing it all out of proportion, saying that Rafa has crossed a line, which in my opinion he hasn’t quite, but he was ill-advised to answer so succinctly.

I think none of us will know completely what went on at the time when Stevie almost left for Chelsea.

One thing I do know is that I’m really glad he didn’t go, and I bet all of you who wanted him out at the time are glad he didn’t go!

Put quite simply, on his day he his the best attacking midfielder in Britain, and I think he would give anyone else a run for their money. He is more valuable to LFC than someone like Kaka would have been because Stevie has a red heart, and always will. We might of got £40m from Chelsea for him but we wouldn’t have got anyone else who could give more to LFC than Steven Gerrard does.

Rafa Was asked a question about Real Madrid and he answered in a way designed not to cause offence to a Spanish Newspaper and to be respectful to a club he is fond of, and probably still has many friends at, and now he’s all of a sudden disloyal.
The man is a top class manager, he could get a job at any club in the world and yet despite the two snake oil salesmen being in charge, a chief executive who couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery, watching a great deal of his chosen signings dissapear because of lack of funds or Rick Parry not getting his act together, he is still willing to sign a contract to stay at the club till 2013.
How bloody loyal does he have to be.
I’m with Keith on this one, if he walked across the mersey some of you would complain he got his feet wet.
It is not voicing an opinion, it is latching on to every concievable possibility of attacking the man.
That doesn’t make me some sort of Rafa groupie,I just cannot understand the pretence that is going on here.
I can understand disagreements over tactics,players bought or their worth to the team, even contentious press conferences, but this, this is tittle tattle blown out of all proportion and worthy of sky news or a tabloid newspaper.
Digger I htink you approach every argument from the position that Rafa is bad for the club, and I expect that you will think the opposite of me, but I can point to our improvements, our league position and our general ability as a club to rise above the sort of crap that has seen a lot of clubs buckle.
You on the other hand are pointing to a completely innocent quote in a spanish newspaper and claiming disloyalty

“Some fans dislike Rafa’s philosophy and will criticise it when it rears its ugly head such as the team being too cautious and functional, subbing off Gerrard, playing players out of position and so on.”

My apologies LB, I’m not picking on you, but that statement needs analyzing.
For sure some fan’s dislike Rafa’s philosophy, and we can all argue about various tactics, formations, players ability, until the sun goes down… as a philosophical discussion.

But let’s just take one part of that statement. The subbing of Gerrard.

Now we’re hardly talking the Robbie Keane siuation here… the merits of subbing Keane or leaving him on could run to 300 posts, so maybe that’s the example you should have used, but subbing SG?
Hasn’t he only done this twice?
The first was against Everton… when his replacement came on and essentially scored the winning goal (ball being handled on the line by a defender and subsequent pen being netted by Kuyt)
The second was against Wigan … and 7 days later SG pulled up with a hammy in the first 10 minutes of the match?

Everyone’s going to “have their opinion” but it seems to me that Rafa got it right in both games.

We accuse Rafa of being too cautious, but what would our results be if he did “release the shackles” … would we be SCum, riding high on 1-0 wins, or Newcastle under Keegan playing flamboyant mid-table football?
Unless you’ve got a crystal ball, you can suggest that “playing ccavalier footy ala Arsenal of a few years ago, would have us winning the Prem undeafeated, but you can’t STATE that we WOULD, coz cavalier Arsenal this year are languishing!

Rafa got praise for playing Aurellio out of position at Portsmouth… but only in hindsight. Its not to his credit if the players shines, that was Aurellio doing his business, in the same way its a bit harsh to judge him if a player looked good in training and then shrank like a violet during a game.

I just think that we should substantiate our statement a bit more… and that’s on both sides of the argument.

I feel some of the “attacks” on Digger, in the last dozen or so posts, were as much over the top as some of the criticism and support of Rafa.

The man is neither an idiot, nor the 2nd coming. (er… that’d be Rafa Dig, not you!)

Aitch, nice disclaimer in the last line

Aitch, I was particularly referring to the subbing of Gerrard against Wigan while the score was level. Now if you already have a fundamental dislike for our most likely goal scorers being withdrawn you’ll be more inclined to let rip at the decision rather than consider that Gerrard might have been tired or not playing well.

I liked the disclaimer as well.

Benitez to sign new contract “within days”

http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?titulo=Benitez%20to%20sign%20new%20contract%20within%20days&id=173

5year, I greatly appreciate and understand the imrovements Rafa has brought to us and am grateful for it. I do not think Rafa is bad for the club. On the contrary, he has been exceptionally good for the club. But, when the guy makes a mistake I can criticize him right? Yesterday I read an interview in which some of his comments were, I felt, less than respectful to the club and the fans. I dont feel its kosher to be publicly flirting with another club regardless of whether you were previously affiliated with them or not, its not the done thing and I voiced those sentiments in here. Its not another concievable possibility to attack the man, it was out of line and I called it as such, nothing more nothing less. I never said the guy was bad for the club or, for the record, disloyal, I said it was disrespectful and I stand by that. So now, crucify me, because yes Aitch, ‘I am the ressurection and I am the life!!’ (always loved that song, never thought I’d get to use that line though!)

LB… I can understand the argument for not taking SG off against Wigan… He’s one of our biggest threats and he’s dragged us back from the brink with late goals on more than a few occasions, as Torres has recently done.

But… conversely… as evidenced by his substitution against Everton last season, taking SG off, doesn’t mean his replacement won’t score or contribute to us scoring a goal.

We can argue the likelihoods, one way or the other, but you can’t state either as fact. As you say yourself, if your tendency is to disagree with more of Rafa’s decisions, than agree, then you’ll likely use that incident to support your position… but therein lies the problem as I see it.

As I just stated, you can use the “likelihood” of a winner to argue for SG remaining on the pitch at Wigan, but you cannot say we would have won if Rafa hadn’t subbed him and then use that to substantiate your opinion that the man is a twonk!
(not your opinion I know, but I’m talking about the opinions at large… you hopefully get my drift)

Now I’m not gonna accuse Digger of only reading one article from one source, coz from previous experience I’d be more inclined to assume he is, like me… and a fair few others in here… a total fuckin nancy of an LFC news junkie whore, who’ll spread their legs for even the most biased snippet of a news report where LFC is concerned!
(hell, I’m supposed to be working during the hour or more of time I spend in here every day)

I read 5 different versions of “what Rafa said” and the context and actual wording is different in all of them.
Likewise, I read 3 different versions of the supposed “Agger issues ultimatum” article, (along with the interview with Jan Molby who stated that Agger told him he wasn’t going anywhere,) and all 3 quoted him differently.

To a certain extent, I see Digger’s point, (he is after all the way and the light) I don’t want anyone from LFC flirting with anyone. As a born-n-bred and red-til-dead myself, I find it uncontionable that if you made it into the LFC set-up, you’d actually want to go anywhere else.

(To this day I argue with my friends that if I was Neil Mellor, I’d have rotted in the reserves before going to Preston. I mean seriously, if you’ve scored the winner against Arsenal in front of the Kop, and been a major contributor in a CL qualifier against Olympiakos on one of those oh so magical Euro Nights, en-route to the CL win, isn’t anywhere else a let down? …might as well be wearing the crest even if it is on a reserve shirt… you might still get an occasional game?)

But having said that… I find it hard to find any real fault with what Rafa “appears” to have said. He was asked a question and he gave what I perceive to be a thought out answer.

The background to which is that his transfer policy has been undermined, he’s worked on a shoestring budget, had a 3rd rate replacement lined up for his job, and been villified by a section of the fanbase for having the fuckin audacity to get us within 2 points of the top of the Prem… fuckin useless bastard… come to think of it, I’ve changed my mind… I’m with Digger, he can fuck off back to Spain!

Word is Real will get Carlos Ancelotti as their next coach.

Aitch, when I spoke about the tendency to disagree, its not a tendency to disagree with Rafa its a tendency to disagree with his philosophy. For example had Rafa fielded a weak team in the cup against Everton I’d have been pissed off. He’s been known to field weak teams in the cups especially when we have 2 games a week. I feel he over does the rotating at times in these circumstances. HOWEVER on this occasion (against Everton) he went with a really strong line up, it still didn’t work out and Stevie got injured. However I backed Rafa’s team selection and even after the game didn’t have a bad word to say about him. I felt his selection gave us the best chance of winning the match.

The game at Everton last season where he took off Gerrard for Lucas and we won. Its not a decision I agreed with at the time but it worked out well and we won the match so there is not a lot you can say without seeming churlish and being accused of always attacking the man. Had we not won I’d have probably been foaming at the mouth!

Even Carra was baffled with that one. While Stevie was giving him the arm band Carra was asking Gerrard “what’s wrong? you injured? whats going on?”

I understand that LB… but again I think we can’t just like what Rafa does when it is what we would do/want done.
That’s too easy.

I was screaming at the tv when he took SG off, v. Everton, because like you, I wasn’t seeing what Rafa was seeing… but I held my hand up at the final whistle, coz I find it hard to believe he would do such a thing for no reason.

I’ve said before, if we want to take the higher ground and say we are better, more knowledgeable fans than Scums and Chavs, then we have to think/behave/discuss in such a manner.
We have to play devil’s advocate a little and at least try to see the context of what is going on.

SG being subbed against Wigan, because he was tired was met with jeers. He then played against Chelsea, okay, so more jeers since he managed that game… then blammo… pulls a hammy on his first run forward v. Everton.

I’m not saying it proves Rafa infallible, but it certainly seems to justify his claims that SG needed a rest… at least a little.

And not a single poster that lambasted Rafa for removing him against Wigan, came in here subsequently and said… fair enough, I guess Rafa was right, I guess SG was a bit at the end of his tether.

Digger, I’m getting increasingly exasperated by your attempts to constantly paint Rafa as disloyal. I personally see nothing wrong with his comments. He fucking brought us within touching distance of the PL title, for the first time in ages, for fuck’s sake! From your comments, you make it sound like he’s not enthusiastic about bringing the title to Liverpool just when we’re entering the last stretch of the race.

And even if (touch wood) we don’t win it, compared to when he first arrived, can you deny that we have not made progress? Even LB admits that. (No offense for using you as an example, LB. )

When he said he would consider coaching Real at the “end of his career”, he probably meant something like when he’s 60 to 70 something, the time when old people decide to try something different. Much like Aragones leaving Spain after Euro 2008 to coach Fenerbahce, or Scolari leaving Portugal to coach the Chavs, or even the ever travelling journeyman Guus Hiddink.

Similarly, we all accepted that our own Torres is a born and bred Atletico man, and there will come a day when he will return to play for Atletico and retire there, but that will be at the twilight of his career.

But I am not too concerned about them being disloyal to Liverpool at all, because when they do depart, it will most certainly be when they have won a lot of trophies and created a (ever-lasting) dynasty for Liverpool, or they get forced out by an idiotic board that’s infludenced by these media hacks goons and instant-success “Johnny come lately” fans, who scrutinise every tiny bit they say and interpret it as being disadvantageous to the club, whether they mean it or not.

Aitch, good point: “I think we can’t just like what Rafa does when it is what we would do/want done.
That’s too easy.”

Obviously the manager of any club can’t please all of the fans all of the time – sometimes even if he is winning every week! Ask Avram Grant.

Kinny I’m guessing you dont read all my posts, check out 72. Aitch, great tongue in cheek stuff at the end of 73! Well I guess its down on our knees ‘Dear God…’ time tonight lads. Well I’ll get us started then: Dear God, if your really out there, please dont let your eternal enemy, the great satan, win tonight. A draw would be sweet but if you could deliver a fulham victory it would be indeed a Godsend. A global brotherhood of reds awaits!

LB,
this is the reason i have stopped commenting in here as a lot of people just seem to have a pop at someone’s else’s comment because they dont agree with it.
Quite a while ago i was giving my take on a match were i thought lucas was pretty poor and to add to his poor performance he missed a sitter, so KeithSA in his infinite ignorance said “i needed fuckin glasses if i thought Lucas missed a sitter”, but that was just my take on the game, the way i saw it.
I dont bother anymore reading his comments anymore as i had noticed i was’nt the only one who got “scolded” for daring to vent my opinion.
PS, by the way i wear specs full time.
YNWA.

Redman your comments are missed mate.

I just read that Gerrard could be on the bench against Man Shitty. That’s good news. 10 min run out at the end maybe? Then 30 mins at the Santiago Bernabeu? Then unleash him at the Riverside.

If Fulham getting anything at all tonight I’ll be shocked. I think Arsene used a bit of psycology with them. In this mornings London Metro he said “Man United are 12 points clear of us, they have a game in hand against Fulham which they will certainly win so that will be 15 points. They would then have to lose 5 games for us to catch them. They look untouchable at the moment”.

LB it’s funny but when Gerrard came off so early against the blueshite, a little voice in the back of my head wondered if it was a clever ploy… taking him off that early meant a few things
1) he still had a chance to score early/make an impact on the game
2) save Rafa & co from getting slaughtered about “not playing Gerrard”
3) remove all doubt/speculation about whether Gerrard “really is injured” after the debacle of him having to prove his injury before the last international
4) he could be rested from the pointless international friendly

I know it’s all a bit far-fetched… but I still thought it. And I thought that if he made a “faster-than-expected recovery” for the Man City game, perhaps it wasn’t so far-fetched…

Effectively he’s had almost 3 weeks solid rest before our big run-in and crucial CL games, a very busy time…

So I will put any money you like that he will be on the bench at the very least against Man City; maybe a 50% chance to start. After that I reckon he’ll play 90 minutes in every game for the rest of the season.

I wish Gerrard was in the Fulham team tonight!

Andy,

that was my gut-reaction also, if he had to leave the derby early, then he couldn’t be questioned about rurning up for the international.

It was the fact we were down to 10 men was the major factor in losing.

Redman I am really sorry if I am the reason you no longer post, however in the context of the game I said you need glasses if you thought Lucas was poor, that being one of his better games and he was one of the better players on the pitch and quite a few people including LB (who does not normally agree with me) agreed that he did have a good game. As for the sitter he missed, if I remember correctly he was one of 3 or 4 people who missed easy chances and I commented saying that his was not the easiest of the easy chances that was missed that night, but once again he took most of the flak. The new Liverpool way of looking for a scape goat when things don’t go right.

Why is it that some people on this blog can say anything, criticize and insult anybody, call them shite, useless, not good enough to wear the Liverpool shirt, but the minute anybody disagrees and defends the person under attack it is harsh and personal? It seems like double standards you are entitled to an opinion but we are not?

“We will never win the league under Rafa” That’s a pretty damming statement of Rafa’s perceived failings and can brook no argument as to where that person stands with regards to evaluating Rafa’s capabilities. Yet when we defend his record we get pulled for being too harsh or too critical of the comment.

I have never attacked or insulted anybody personally on this blog, just their statements about various aspects of Liverpool play and their evaluation on Management and players. Yet I have been called names and told to do various things which I cannot be bothered to go into and that’s all right as long as I don’t pull them up for what, in my opinion, is harsh, over the top and unfounded criticism.

Redman “Infinite ignorance vs You need fucking glasses and that’s why you no longer post? Don’t you think that is a tad on the week side as far as excuses go? Saying that I have never thought of you as an adversary or a person that I disagree with on a regular basis or on many things many things as a matter of fact. My comment was never meant as a personal insult to you, but on how I thought you saw the game and I apologize if you took it that way.

My thoughts precisely, Keith.

Redman, for the record, I have nothing personal against you, but I find your comment on #80 extremely patronising, even if it is aimed at Keith.

Maybe Keith worded it wrongly (especially with the wearing glassed part), but I found nothing wrong of his defence of Lucas (whom I myself have some doubts about, FYI), and it was certainly not aimed at you.

Of course everyone is, as the saying goes, entitled to make an opinion. But the price of making an opinion is that we accept that they will have to be scrutinized, and we only have ourselves to blame if there are holes in our arguments being taken apart.

Come on, let’s get back to cheering Fulham to at least break some Scum legs tonight, if they couldn’t even muster a draw. (A win over them is most ideal, but wishy at best. )

Once again, here comes the old “everyone’s entitled to their opinion” chestnut.

If you want to insist that you are entitled to your opinion, then you’d best be prepared to state WHY you hold that opinion. Back it up!

Just coz we have an opinion, doesn’t make it right!

take a look at athe following statements:

Rafa is a tactical genius, because…
1. He brought Didi on in the 2nd half of the 1st Cl final against AC Milan and we won #5
2. He took SG off and put Lucas on against Everton and Lucas turned the game and got us the winner

Rafa is a numpty who’s lost the plot, because…
1. He took Mascherano off, witht he score tied in the 2nd CL final against Milan, freeing up Kaka and we lost.
2. he took SG off against Wigan and we dropped 2 points.

Now if you look at those two differing opinions OBJECTIVELY, you have to say there is a lot of merit to both statements.
But you could also find an argument opposing them.

If you want to state, “I call it as I see it” or “I’m just stating my opinion and sticking to it” fine, but don’t expect people to not call you on why you have that opinion.

Here’s a FATC we can all agree on… something about which there is no debate, middle ground or contrary opinion…
FULHAM SUCK!

…er… keyboard dyslexia is a horrible disease, help us fight it now, by sending your donation…….

that was of course meant to be FACT…

Very well put KeithSA, Aitch and Kinny Riddle!

Backing up with facts and not just opinions are needed in a constructive blogs like kopblog. Whatever criticism we make should be justified!
We need to ask this question to ourselves, Why are we wasting so much time on a blog? Reading posts, other people’s comments, why are we doing it? Because one common thing among us all is that we follow Liverpool FC and love doing that. We need to criticize when its needed and not criticize just for the sake of it.

christ its so frustrating. them wankers fulham couldnt even get a bit of a sweat going instead they concede two early goals then lie down….. fucking wankers. I understand that alot of these teams look at utd at the start of the season an say “well lads were not gonna win this one so just take her handy keep urself fresh for the 6pointer against newcastle”. As much as it pains me to say it they’ve built that up over bagin the last few titles,but the lesser teams always seem to play outta there skins against us an always come looking to have a go.
I wish they’d grow some balls an get stuck right in atleast then they may take out a a few of the scums players or god forbid steal some points!!!

this probably sounds a bit parnoid but it just wrecks me how much ball licking goes on around them wankers. a bookmaker has already started paying out on man u winning league,league cup and f.a.cup. i’ve also been creeping behind enemy lines its a horrible feeling you feel really dirty doing it and usually need a shower after,but on the filth websites they our talking like they’ve won the heap already this season.

jesus it’ll be so good if they fuck up i think i may get a liverpool tattoo on my face because i cant walk down the street without running into ten of these arrogant bastards and they our so smug….

god if you let them equal our record i shall cease to believe in you!!!!!!!!!!!

COME ON THE POOL

YNWA

Well, let’s put it this way, roarin: If you had asked me back in August if I had to choose between being 12 points behind or 5 points behind the league leaders in the end of February, I would definitely pick the latter. So let these Scum-loving media live in their delusion for now, as the saying goes, it ain’t over till the Fat Lady sings.

I never expected anything of Fulham, and I don’t expect Blackburn to be able to do anything this weekend. (Would be delighted if they could. ) But that is out of our hands, and all the boys need to do is make sure they beat Man City on Sunday and keep the distance to 5 pts at most.

If I remember correctly, the Scum has to play Spurs for the League Cup final the following weekend, meaning their original league match for that weekend will have to be postponed. It’ll be sometime before the Scum can play their new game-in-hand as their fixture begins to pile up (as they’re still in the FA Cup), so we are going to have to make full advantage of this and narrow the distance to 2 points then.

If we can do that, come March 14, a win could just possibly swing the momentum significantly in our favour, whether they have game or no game-in-hand.

Anyway, lest I get carried away, it’s now back to earth for me and concentrating on nothing but the Man City game.

We have just inched up to No 7 in the FootbaLL Club Warnings League for 2008:

http://www.economist.com/markets/indicators/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13109984&fsrc=rss

Keith, a WEEK has seven days and WEAK is the opposite to strong!

It just makes it worst that Fulham held out for a 0-0 at Anfield.

All we can do is keep plugging away. We know now (even if we didn’t before) that we will have to win at Old Trafford, probably along with our other 12 remaining Prem games to have a chance of landing nimber 19!

Anyone else see it differently?

Redman. Fat Scouser and your good self brought excellent humour to this site. It looks as if FS is not coming back, so we really don’t want to lose you as well.

The fat lady isn’t singing yet but she’s humming…… If the mancs beat Blackburn and we fail to beat Man City we’ve had it. There is no room for any fuck ups. I said before we’ll need to win 10 out of the last 13 games. I might revise that to 11 wins out of 13. When I look at the mancs fixture list it doesn’t fill me with optimism.

Their remaining league games:

Blackburn (h)
Newcastle (a)
Us (h)
Fulham (a)
Villa (h)
Sunderland (a)
Spurs (h)
Boro (a)
Man City (h)
Arsenal (h)
Hull City (a)

Where will they drop points? Us, Villa and Arsenal all at Old Trafford – that seems like the only hope to me. They will have a fixture pile up but the squad is bloody huge will it be a problem? I was hoping after their trip to Japan they would suffer with fixture pile up and lots of travelling. Well they reeled off 9 league wins in a row without conceding a single goal

I was hoping Fulham would at least make a game out of it. As roarin said, get stuck in and force them to huff-n-puff for a 1-0, but they really did just capitulate.
At least teeams like Hull and Stoke get stuck in and in these types of fixtures, players pick up senseless yellows.

That’s what we need right now, coz Scum are flying with their tits up at the moment. Tevez and Rooney are playing with a real swagger and flair and with Ronaldo and Berbatool capable of moments of real brilliance (cunts though they may both be) its hard to see anyone taking points off them.

They look to have an easier fixture run in than we do… though a backlog of games (don’t they have 4 games in 11 days or something?) might just help us.

Their fixtures against the Arse, Chavs and Aston Villa will be crucial, but then we still have to play 2 of those. I think it might just come down to Scum dropping points in those 3 fixtures and us not.

I have maintained throughout the season that I thought they would falter at the end… but they appear to be growing stronger at the moment.

Fuckers… lets hope for some confluence of crazy events that sees a couple more of these bizarre Ref decisions, resulting in Scum players get sent off and the loss of 3 points this weekend, and us storm Citeh for a convincing 3.

Otherwise, I’m facing some defibrilator paddles, an emergency room visit and an I.V. drip!

Oops I forgot they’d already played the Chavs.

So yeah, LB as you said, aside from the games against Us, Villa and the Arse… not toomany likely point takers in that bunch are there?

Maybe Hull away and Spurs (though unlikely at OT) but as my old friend Andy Dufresne says… “hope is a good thing, perhaps the best of things”

It really doesn’t matter what happens, we need to beat Man City first, then work from there.
.
Also lads I’ve thought about the argument/opinion debate. It seems this site is becoming a University standard blog site, with all argument to be backed up with quotes and previous know knowledge.
.
That may be fine for an argument, but who’s really arguing. Most people on here are blogging their opinion, which is something they feel. It’s more a reactive emotion rather than a logical argument. People are allowed to say what they feel, if they back it up with a logical explanation, well good, but if they don’t it’s still an opinion.
.
Does that mean you can’t get shot down, no not at all just move on to the next post. Redman as sad as it is to avoid someones posts. Keith pens some excellent stuff, at times. Try what I do, glimpse and move on, if it’s not your cup of tea, skip over it, but still be part of this site.
.
Arguments usually last a couple of days, while opinions vary depending on the score.

Dear all,

To change tact, for good or bad, I think that everyone that has posted here since I found the site has, in general, except the knob last week, had the best of intentions for LFC at heart.

LB, Aiyic, Aitch, 5yearPlan, AndyWirral.. & Gerry himself, KUDOS for all of you.

But there is one guy missing that I would like to have back. Fat Scouser.

Sorry Gerry, but can we get together and create a thread on RAWK to get FS back and maybe everyone will benefit.

Best Regards,
Lurgankop

Gaz, I totally agree with your post, number 98. I can quite honestly say that I could not have put it better myself, well said that man!

We do not live in a environment where we have to explain in detail our beliefs/opinions as if our lives depend on it, at least not on a TIA supporters site, FFS!

Please guys, continue to say what is in your hearts/minds. That is what makes this site.

Well said Gaz. And well played West Indies for drawing the test match

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/02/19/ryan-babel-i-will-learn-from-fernando-torres-liverpool-fc-latest-100252-22962795/

Gaz, the other thing that might go along with what you said is that nobody is wrong, (and to use a well-worn football phrase) but at the end of the day, who’s hurt? But well said!

LurganKop, I totally agree. Bring the fatman back. surely it’s long enough now.

steve on #100, of course you’re free to say whatever you like, but I didn’t like the fact that Redman plays the victim card and complains about how he’s being persecuted, or at least that’s how his post seemed to me.

The problem with that idea, is that its usually the people making daft statements that can’t be backed up, who cling to the “I’m entitled to my opinion” stuff.

There are plenty of places to spew vitriol…
what I’ve always liked about Kopblog is that it isn’t really a place where you can just state your opinion and then sit staring at the screen all proud of yourself because your thoughts are now in print and that somehow justifies both your intellect and your existence…

but rather, it is, using Gerry’s blogs as a starting point for discussion, a palce where people who know football and LFC, come to discuss… intelligently… in the true manner of “most knowledgeable fans in the world”… opinions about LFC.

And furthermore, if we cannot be disuaded from our opinions, no matter what evidence is presented to suggest the contrary, then its not an opinion, its a manifesto!

Gaz,you got it right. Everybody is entitled for an opinion. Good or bad, venting your frustration, well that is why this blog is here.
On Rafa, well he could have taken the easier route,PLAY your best players all the time and if they get injured (eg. Torres being over worked and finally succumbs to injury and laid off for the final three months) replace them with the sub, if in the end we don’t win anything then everyone understands that our team don’t have the resources to win the league and there will be praises all around for the manager because he tried hard. But Rafa does not want to do that because for him winning matters. He has to try. What ever limited resources he has he has to use the best method to win something. That is why last season re rotated the players to keep them fresh even though he knows he does not have a strong team to win the league. He just want to have a go at it in case the front runners slip. It did not happen even though we had more points then the others the second half of the season. When Martin Samuel wrote “Take the best Manchester United XI and the best Liverpool XI and put them together: how many of Benitez’s team would get into Ferguson’s? Not many. And that is why the championship is again heading for Old Trafford.” it gets into your skin. But Rafa thinks different and acts different. If he does not he would not have won in Spain against Real Madrid and Barcelona. Yes he makes mistakes but sadly it counts compared to Ferguson because he have some inferior players. But Rafa knows one thing that is if you strong in mind you can overcome anything. Also he knows you have to use strategy to overcome strong teams. Give him the chance. It is better to come from second and win the title which we will, then to stay on top and every pundits in the land having a go at us saying we can’t be there long because we don’t have staying power. It is unnecessary pressure for the team. Now the pressure is on MU. When the whole world says they have the staying power, we will prove all wrong and grab our 19th title. LIVERPOOL WILL BE CROWNED AS CHAMPIONS. Long Live Liverpool

Well said Gaz ,not everybody will like what everybody has to say, tempers will fly for perceived wrongs and what you said is spot on. Sorry Steve for my moment of weakness I am humbled by your excellent knowledge of grammar, if spell check dose not pick it up I am fucked, I tend to scan over what I write and miss the really obvious, unless there is a red line under it.

Atich #104 still has me smiling.

Agreed our match at the Scum is all crucial, they can afford to draw we have to win, unless Villa or Arsenal do us a favor, I really thought they would drop points at West Ham. Sunderland could potentially be a tricky one for them, Hull as well.

Keith dose is an amount, does is action. Heh heh.

Some glimmers of hope.

United have Man city & Arsenal in their last 3 matches. There is less pressure on us in 2nd place. We normally finish stronger in the second half of the season (that needs to kick in now).
Torres is well rested and should have a storming finish.

We all know that Manure are on a great run and are not conceding but one of the things that really pisses me off is that they are not playing like Barca, who are murdering teams with dazzling football, and yet most teams are scared shitless of them and are beatan before thye go on the pitch. I really thought West Ham and Fulham would give them a better game but they were both pathetic.

Perhaps I am the one who should apologise Keith. It was unfair of me to highlight your error, especially when it was obvious what you were saying.

I don’t however feel that any of us need to apologise for any of our comments on anything to do with LFC on this site. The fact that we all post on here regularly and obviously all want to see LFC succeed should be enough to let us say what we feel about our beloved Reds, even if some of us are not as articulate as others.

Unfortunately Keith, I can’t see Man.U slipping up at the likes of Sunderland or Hull, I just don’t see it happening, I really hope I’m wrong.

Us, Villa and the Arse could cause the Mancs some headaches, we need to give them a migrane!

I add my support to what Gaz said in #98.
This is a place for all Liverpool supporters to voice their views and the subject at hand.

We are come from different places and have supported Liverpool, for different lengths of time.We will never all agree on whats best for The Club, 40,000 spectators on a saturday at Anfield don’t view the game in the same way.
I for one will not be publishing a bibliography to support my views on Liverpool.
If you don’t like my comments then don’t read them, simple as that.

I try to be polite on here and not to use any language that would be offensive to others.

I enjoy reading your comments , some of which I agree with and some I don’t.
But I will fight for your right to air your views on here, as long as they are civil.

well it looks like blackburn at least gave it a go. of course they weren’t going to get that legitimate penalty call in the second half…its old trafford remember?

Thats more like it. ok get over the fact it so could have easily been a draw, but unlike faggoty fulham blackburn made them work today and as a result ronaldo picked up a yellow and evans goes off injured…… now lets see more of that and eventually some of those narrow wins will become draws or losses, because when they get their fixture back log thats when it should start making a difference.
Anyway fuck’em lets just look after our own shop get three points tomorrow and build on it. lets see a tremendous finish which keeps hope in our hearts!!!!

YNWA

Hi Gang,

Just watched the highlights of Manure’s latest “scintillating performance”, luck is in bed with momentum plus a ridiculous Webb fudge … normal service at the Old Toilet.
Anyway what would you expect?

So how is Rafa gonna go tomorrow? No Gerrard, no Xabi and we simply have to win.

Citeh have pace and trickery going forward and maybe, just maybe, the game might be big enough for Robinho & Co to give a f**k. I reckon we’ll get the chances but we’ve got to put them away fast. They have nothing to lose and we have to be clinical.

So who’s in for tomorrow?

Pepe

Skrtyl, Carra, Agger

Arbie and Aurelio wingbacks,

Kuyt, Mascher, Riera

Benny O off Torres

I have Agger in (assuming fitness) because he can take it out of defence and hit a killer ball. Mascher scrapping away in front of a back 3/5 with 7/8 out there who can threaten if they have the will.

How about it ?

Dougle, I think Lucas will be in there somewhere. Probably at the expense of Agger. But I like your set up.

Dougle..I like the looks of your Team selection.

It has been a slow-news two weeks for Liverpool, so I con understand the slowness in here. But i still know which blog to comment on.

a man scum fan sat and argued the bit out with me last night. i swear after reading these blogs since the start of this season some of you would have been horrified by the nonsense that was being spouted.
Firstly he is convinced that rafa is soley to blame and his “rant” is the reason why where not top and thats that!!! when i tried to explain that rafa was merely defending his team after a fergie’s outburst the week before he wouldnt even admit to it happening.
Then he explained that we have to get rid of him because he’s won us nothing (last two seasons) and wont win us anything(p.s the best part was he didnt realise he was talking as if the season was over you’s lost it because,we won it because……)at this point i just gave up because i couldnt find the strength.
Though low and behold i wake up to more shit on sky about more fuck up’s with rafa’s contract should he end up leaving these filth supporters will be saying i told ya so

the only thing that will clear my head is big win today.

come on the pool

At the risk of discarding rafa’s favourite mantra of one game at a time, what a time to play Real Madrid – they just won their 9th consecutive league game thumping Betis 6-1. All 6 goals in the first half!!!

Back to City game and something tells me if we win and keep the pressure on United, they will drop points next weekend. Gut feel.

Come on you REDS!
YNWA

No Agger in today’s squad. Does not look good.

Today’s team: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Dossena, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Torres, Kuyt.
Subs: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Aurelio, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, El Zhar.

I have to admit I’m not surprised yet still disappointed at lucas’ inclusion. If we have learned anything this season its that a pairing of Masch and Lucas is painfully devoid of creativity and is probably our weakest midfield. Aurelio was motm there 2 wks ago, why not retain him in xabi and stevies absence? I dearly hope to be proven wrong but I fear for centre midfield today. Still, we should have far too much for a team thats only won once away all season, 2-0 reds, a brace for No.9

Agger should be playing instead of Goldilocks Lucas.Insua and Aurelio should be out on the left.Rafa is setting himself up for a serious flack.

That’s that. #19 is at last another season away.
Let’s focus on the CL and blood some of the younger players.

Lessons need to be learnt from this season as alluded to above. Mashy & Lucas not creative enough etc etc.

In simple terms we need more players who can score goals so either blood the younger players like Nemeth or buy players who have a track record of 10-12 goals per season.

Forget goalscorer Neilob, a few players who can string a few passes together and look at least marginally comfortable ont he ball would do me at this point!

Did they all sleep through the team talk… or perhaps the previous 2 days and not realize we needed the 3 points?

That was an incredibly weak performance across the park. No one (except for Dirk and Masch) driving forward with purpose and intent. We’re not even doing the basics right.
How fuckin difficult is it to take a corner and put it on the 6 yard line?
I can do it and I don’t spend every day getting paid large sums of money to be able to!

I hate to pick on one player, coz the result certainly wasn’t his fault, but WHAT has happened to Riera? Today he looked like he’d never played footy before!

very sad and frustrating… at this rate we’ll be lucky to finish 4th again.

And Digger… for the record I’ve changed my mind.

The result wasn’t his fault, but Lucas has had enough chances now.

I still think the lad has talent, but it doesn’t look like he’ll ever display it in a red shirt.
I was really hoping he’d emerge from whatever cloud he’s been functioning under, but he just doesn’t seem to be able to.

Dear Gerry,

I will start my latest contribution (3 of 3).
I have been an avid fan of your editorials and Blog for a long time and have admired them without actually registering to add my comment,because I am not fully computer literate, my 12 yrs old Grandson is helping me to submit my opinion.(As honest as it is.)
I even voted for you in the latest poll.
I have been a Liverpool supporter since my first visit to Anfield (boys pen) with my father in 1968.
I have owned and still own 5 Season tickets in the Main Stand since 1973.
I am an Expat who gets to use my season tickets as often as I can, my family and friends use them when they are not available to me.
Please excuse my grammar and spelling as I know that there are a few university graduates here (arseholes) who seem to think that that their “informed opinion”, is enough to bully and intimidate genuine Livepool FC. fans who speak from the heart by criticising their spelling,grammar or opinions.
A good few honest supporters have left this forum for expressing their opinion and have been slated off with remarks such as”vitriolic,abusive, back your opinion up with facts, you have a victim mentality!”.remarks from these “so called supporters who think that they have more football intelligence than them.
This forum has lost alot of genuine Liverpool supporters because of these”people”.
You know who you are,who have caused these departures: Lurgan Kop,Digger,Aitch, Skeat,Alec the Red, dinny, etc, the list goes on of Bullies who are responsible for our loss of genuine supporters such as FS and others.
I would like to know how many games they have attended and not watched free loading on ther PC or reading the latest internet comments on other Blogs which they are no doubt members of too.
They seem to think that anybody who expresses an opinion here that is not aligned to theirs is either being vitriolic (whatever that means?),
abusive or has verbal diahorrhea, talkin a load of sh*t.
I suggest these “people” are the genuine armchair supporters.
I will now “comment” on todays game against Man City, if thats ok with you bullies?
I will be suprised if this posting is allowed to remain here for long and will be deleted by the “powers that be”.
I am sorry to say that the current situation, ie depth of squad, attitude and skills of some of our players, is down to one man only, Mr Rafael Benitez.
He has a history of stubborness, so called “attention to detail” and a total lack of man managment.
FFS he could most probably write a synopsis and 9000 page essay on how to ride a bike!!!!
The only way to learn is, in 4 hrs is to get on it and do it!
I know that we have some negative influence from the current owners who are only interested in making money out of the “deal” but lets not forget how much money they have consented to allow him “King Rafa” to spend.
Keane is the latest example,an absolute disgrace the way he was treated here, a pawn in Rafas political game to gain control.
Babel, 12 millions of Pounds, 2 years later, umpteen opportunities, nothing except a mediocre, confidence lacking individual.
Dossena, a club record signing for a “defender”,absolute joke!
Lucas, another individual who had loads of potential but is just not good enough to hack it in the Premiership but “He” insists on playing him week in and week out!, enough said, I think.
These are just 3 of the most recent total wastes of money,not forgetting the rest who are still on a minimum of 40 grand a week.
Contracts have not been renewed for some of our better players because “He” prefers to blame the others.
Agger has a recent history of drug use which was detected during his injury lay off by an inhouse,club drug test which he failed.
Not a fact which most Liverpool fans would like to hear but he owns several bars in Liverpool town centre and has been at the playboy mentality for a while.
Its no wonder we got no money to sign the top class players we need.
This is all a result of the meglomaniac Benitez.
Would you let him be in full charge of our transfer budget with his record?
He has a track record of problem causing, lack of man managment and only still exists, unfortunately as our manager because of the Euro cup win.
Our Club is being used as a pawn in Benitezs power game because he knows his record stinks, so blame everybody else, Hicks, Gillette,Parry, the tea lady, referees, manure ferguson and his influence on the FA,,,wot a load of shit, wake up and smell the coffee you armchair supporters,let him go now.
The end of another disasterous chapter in our history,nearly as bad as the Souness reign.
I would not allow the so called “Spanish Waiter” to spend another penny of our transfer budget he has wasted enough of our club history and money
OH, and for you university, spell check graduates out there who would ask who the replacement could possibly be,,,,,,,,try Maureen Mourinho,,,a proven man manager with balls AND A POSITVE ATTITUDE…

Comment by Sir Roger Hunt
February 22, 2009 @ 8:04 pm

sir roger hunt…i never drove anyone out of this site and i am in no way responsible for members leaving, especially fat scouser. however, i have been told i was a “toothless inbred whose wife left him” by perhaps one of these “liverpool supporters” you are speaking about. moreover, i was told that i had a victim mentality, i didnt tell someone they did.

and mourinho having a positive attitude!?!?! hahaha. you must be joking. the man has no class as a person, and he was tactically undone by rafa 3+ times with a far less skilled squad. positive attitude in what way?!

i’m also glad to see that you are teaching your grandson racist slurs like “spanish waiter” and teaching him to type curse words onto the blog.

i suppose winning the champions league, the fa cup, the euro super cup, and reaching the finals of the carling cup, another champions league, and the world club championships is another poor spell for our club – like souness’ reign. not to mention getting our highest point total for over a decade all with a smaller budget that the rest of the big 4 (except maybe arsenal).

it doesnt take a college degree to see the ignorance in your comments…and i’m not being a bully. that’s a plain fact.

i was wondering when kopking might change his name and come back in here.

As I sit here in the university sized reference library wing of my house, wearing my red smoking jacket and sipping from a cognac snifter, while smoking a cigarette in a 6 inch black cigarrette holder, I am struggling with just exactly why I am deemed to be an “arsehole,” just because I might have graduated from university?

Following the statement “I will now comment on today’s game” you then proceeded to NOT comment on today’s game, but instead used today’s result to verbally berate Benitez and his time in charge….

I can’t speak for other’s who were mentioned or referred to, but I can say this in my own defense.
I don claim to have “more football intelligence than” other, but I do have football intelligence. And not coz I am a university graduate, but because like you, my first game was int he Boy’s pen at Anfield in the 60s and since the day my father introduced me to this game, I’ve study it.
I’ve never once watched a game through 4-10 pints of lager that might cloud my judgement. For over 30 years, I’ve played the game on 3 continents and coached it very successfully at youth level…. that doesn’t mean I know more than anyone here… but it does mean I now a little bit about the game.

I don’t begrudge someone coming in here and expressing an opinion, as long as it is thought out… and if it isn’t… then I’ll propose a different viewpoint and ask them to think about it.

I’ve conceeded points in discussion to LB in the past and Digger as recently as today (in the post above your SR, as it happens) so how am I “driving people away”??

All you suggested by your 1st post is that you dislike Spanish people and anyone who attempts to educate themselves. (and by the way, education is a process, not an end result!)

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go have a teleconference with some eggheads and boffins at Downing Street and the Whitehouse to solve the world economic crisis, fix the ozone layer and instigate world peace… coz apparently that’s what university grads should do rather than spoiling an exclusively working man’s sport!

Aitch, You’re frickin killing me man! Great stuff in 130! As for Lucas, ya know what? Im not gonna say anything really, why slam the guy? Its pretty evident the guy dosent have it and its not his fault he gets picked right? So whats the point? Sigh… Champions league it is then!

Well that’s just it, Dig, I’m not slamming the guy. I stated quite clearly that this result was not down to his performance.
I think we were lackluster all over the park and I have seriously raised eyebrows (hence the insinuation that I’m too “high-brow” for this blog perhaps?) (badump-bump-tish!) about the performances of a lot of our players today.

I’ve argued the lads merits with you on many occasion…LB and a few others too. And I’ve defended him and suggested he needs more time and opportunities… but he simply isn’t taking them and while you guys had seen enough before now, I was willing to give him more chances to impress… but he simply hasn’t!

So… in the true spirit of the balanced discussion I’m always screaming for… I have now decided, that while I still think he has talent, I think he’s had enough chances to show it for us, and not doen so… and maybe a change of scenery would now be best for all parties concerned.

As for the Champions League… we might all be havin’ a larf there, based on today’s performance!

Real stomped out with 6 goals this weekend!

And you just know that fucker Beckham will pop up with a goal against us. Its in the stars, like Bellends deflected goal was today!

But since I’m conceding on Lucas, I simply have to say… What about Deadly Dirk, eh?

Fuckin amazing striker that lad. Who needs Torres when Dirky’s bangin’ ‘em in?

(er… yes, I know… that would be US!)

Beckham?? What you on about Aitch?! Your really hitting that cognac eh mate?! Dirk was great today, btwn him and benny for motm I thought. I’d been saying for weeks he needed to be benched, my wish granted at Pompey and Voila! The kick up the hole he needed apparantly, been excellent since. I swear to Fowler Aitch when he turned that time, strode forward and hammered that shot that Given just parried away I was up off the couch ready to leave the reservation man! Thought she was net bound

ARE WE COMMENTing ON THE “Vote Kopblog” eh…BLOG, or not?

Is Sir Roger, KopKing in disguise?

Oh! He’s commented on this one too. Big up for being a Kopite, Sir Rog, yo a class act!

Sir Roger, since I am top of your armchair hit-list (I sure that you did not mean that as an honour) maybe you could give a few examples of my posts that have ‘driven’ people away. Especially any FS related ones.

Cheers.

What a guy!
‘I still have confidence we can get the right results against Middlesbrough and Sunderland, though, and that could put things in a different light.’

Benitez has still to reach agreement over a new contract and has hit a new snag with the club’s American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

After holding out for more control over transfers, the Liverpool manager now wants a clause inserted allowing him to walkaway if Hicks and Gillett sell up and he fails to develop a working relationship with their successors.

League challenge over for another season then. At least we extended the challenge from the usual November to February. We’ve drawn 5 of our last 7 home games. That’s mid table form. We haven’t won more than 3 games in a row at any stage in the league this season. That’s not league winning form. Yes we’re above Chelsea and Arsenal but we are above those teams during a season when they are not challenging for the title either.

You can talk about concentrating on the CL but if any of you have been watching Spanish football over the past 2 months you wouldn’t be confident. Real have won around 10 games in a row and have world class players all over the pitch. I wouldn’t put money on our progression to the quarter finals.

Simply put we don’t have enough top quality players. We can’t break teams down and put the ball in the net when it matters. We have drawn almost half of our home matches. We’ve drawn 10 games out of 28. That’s not good enough.

Too many of the players we’ve signed over the last 2 years just aint good enough to win anything. Their form is up and down like a yo-yo. How many of Rafa’s signings can be relied upon to play well most weeks? Alonso and Torres. Keane was a failure, Babel has been a failure, so has Lucas, Masch doesn’t look like an £18.5m captain of Argentina at the moment. Despite the amount of money spent (less than some other clubs admittedly) our most consistent players are still Carra and Gerrard.

Some managers have the man management skills to get £5m players to perform like £15m players. Maybe Rafa has taken us as far as he can with our budget. He’s rejected 5 contract offers. Maybe its time he moved on and we get someone else in who can get the maximum out of players. And get a scouting network together who can find top class talent before they cost a fortune. Even better would be new, decent owners in the summer.

Well said LondonBarnes, more eloquently put than I could possbly could.

Roy Evans challenged well in2 March, yet he got fired after 4 seasons !.Fergie will win a minimum of 2 trophies this season-possibly more.I am sick of Riera who is worse than Smicer or Murphy.If Rafa stays a big clearout is needed.11 million for Babel who gets a few minutes @ the end?.Aurelio should of played and Agger instead of Goldilocks.Does 3rd place get you in2 the group stage of the cl automatically?.

Post of the month if not ’09 so far LB. Only one thing I view slightly differently is our chances against Madrid. If theres one place where Rafas draws have been good for us its away day in the c.l and I see no reason why he wont send out another well drilled team capable of stifling Madrid. Its what he does well, its his calling card, his modus operandi, and I believe it’ll be normal c.l service resumed on Wednesday night. Then he’ll rest key players at boro before return leg which we’ll win 1-0.

Up to now…i was still fighting me argue of putting here something…but after reading comment after comment…i feel i owe this blog an obligation to put down a thing or two,before am being asked whether am drunk,called a kneejerker,or at its best be asked whether i really do understand this game of football!!!…..Oh! while we are at it,i hope the Skeats and the Aitchs of this world wont send me again to support the Manures or the Chavs at that….they seem to hold the most reddest blood in their vains….to them,they are more REDS than others…that’s it!!

Before am being spell checked,i want to say,most of us come from different traditions and background…a word or two may contradict with may culture but that does justify me to have a go at any one!

I have always asked the so called “arm chair supporters” to wake up and smell the coffee,or read between the lines at its best…and i remember saying that Rafa had already lost the plot,and if by any chance we won the EPL trophy,it would be only down to luck…and i still stand by that….

He rested most of our most influential players in the games we should have won…simply because he wanted to keep them fresher,he is disgustingly stubborn,lacks the balls and the mentality to win at times…he concedes defeat or a draw by the 60th minute…and honestly i have fondly loved the days when he was operated…coz that gave Sammy Lee to exhibit the skills of what a title winning coach should look like….”Throw in ur most best plays and play each game at a time”

Poor man management skills,it is he has been best at….he has had a fight with Packo,Rick Parry, Alex Ferguson, Tom and Gillet, Jermaine Pennat , Robbie Keane…the list is endless!!!

IT doesnt take a coaching degree, to figure out ur best starting 11 and to stop sticking with players that cant deliver!

Am already packed and headed to the theater for a heart surgery,and whoever reads this,just know i died a tragic Rafa-death….!

im just a realist not a living in fantasy land like the majority of the liverpool fans.its ok to be optomistic,but im a realist.look at the teams we droped points against at home,stoke,everton, hull,west ham,fulham,these are teams that you should expect to beat if you want to win the league.

Sula you sound angry man! Hope I dont sound condescending mate but, deep breath, 1,2,3 and repeat. I find it much easier make a thought out accurate point when I’m not enraged! A factual arguement will always defeat an emotional one. Believe me, I understand and even agree with some of your points but you are still firmly in the ‘anger’ stage of the grief process, you need to get the ‘acceptance’ stage so we can have sensible debate. The title bid is dead: accept it sula! Now you can enjoy rest of season!

Okay that’s twice I’ve been picke don now.

Sula… I have never once suggested anyone fuck off and support someone else. I’ve travelled the world and everywhere I’ve gone I’ve recruited faithful fans into the Liverpool fold.
When I see Manc and Scum supporters, I don’t fuck them off, I get in their heads and find out why they’re wearing that shirt, and do my best to convince them they are following false gods and need to be following the one true divine light in footy… LFC.

All I have ever done, is ask people to get their facts straight and back u p what they say! So if you’re gonna attack me by name, I ask again. Get your facts straight.

I am happy everyone in here is a Liverpool fan and I have never claimed to be a better red than anyone in here.
What I have said is that we as LFC fans have always been widely regarded as “the most knowledgeable fans in the world.” Its a badge we all wear with pride is one to which all of us should strive!

So when you say about Rafa… “he has had a fight with Packo,Rick Parry, Alex Ferguson, Tom and Gillet, Jermaine Pennat , Robbie Keane…the list is endless!!!”

Then I ask you, what about the endless articles qhere Torres, Pepe, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Kuy, and yes, even Stevie have said playing for himm has made them a better player?

Soz that seems to nullify your argument?

Oh and burgerman…. Agger has a back injury, hence the reason we played “goldilocks” …just a little inconvenient fact to ruin your argument.

jesus this is turning into a blog boxing ring after bad results(in fairness if i’d been near a computer i think i would have posted something i would have regret) though its good to see the passion flying about!!!
one thing is certain no matter what we say to each other its not gonna change the results. I was completly sickend yesterday, it really felt like a killer blow,though i’m not willing to throw in the towel just yet and the simple reason is because we’re liverpool when we do get OUR title back its gonna be the hard way because as you all know we dont do easy.
with regaurds to the match we’ve done something that were doing to often this season, we gave a shit team all the hope in the world and until we start playing with a bit more of a swagger shit teams will fancy themselves against us thats all i have to say on that.
I’m really disappointed in the rafa bashing,i mean the crap the guy has had to put up with is disgraceful yet he’s still brought us two CL finals fa cup and carling cup. i’m not saying he’s flawless by any means i personally didnt like the line up yesterday but thought that the liverpool players should have been able to do a job. when people say the money he’s spent its not that black and white every team has there flop signings but at a team like liverpool its gonna be highlighted more, add to the fact rafa is having to sell certain players to free up cash of course the wrong signings will be scruntinzed but if you take away what he’s sold from what he’s bought i’m sure the figure is no where near the 200 odd million people try to ram down your throats when telling us how much money the club has spent.

well we live to fight another day no better way to pick urself than a nice we meeting with r.madrid on wednesday.

seconds out round two……….

come on the pool YNWA

Sula , well said mate.
Diggerno, you are an armchair psychiatrist aswell as armchair supporter?

You are obviously a drop out from the University of Life Diggerno, the only qualification letters you got after your name like most know it alls: P.r.i.c.k.

Diggerno,you need to get the ‘acceptance’ stage so we can have sensible debate.
Now you can enjoy rest of season!
From your armchair.

Diggerno.10, you seem to have a secret admirer.

Thanks Roger, I will! Now, embrace your anger my padowan learner!