Well done Gerry! Very well deserved. YNWA

Gerry, Matt Ladson and Max Munton, well done lads, congratulations and thoroughly deserved for all the hard work you have contributed over the last year.
Pity you were not able to collect the award personally Gerry it would have made a great video to see you on stage, sobbing with joy, in your sequinned red dress with the Liverbird on, a pint of Guinness in your hand.
Wednesday is D DAY, I have a sneaky feeling we are going to show em all what we are really capable of.
Come on you Redsssssssss!!!!!!!!
YNWA.

congratulations gerry. two years running. p.s i’m delighted you said you are still a fan of the boss……you’d think rafa is some sort of twisted evil rapist listening to certain people.
p.p.s i’ve got a really good feeling about the champions league this year!!!

YNWA

Sorry, I wasn’t aware that Dagger had a back injury at the time of writing the blog which I suppose just goes to show that armchair opinions aren’t always very reliable, but I think you can still get the point I was making about the team.

Congrats gerry, how do I get my site reviewed?
Its http://friendsofliverpool.com
Keep up the good work!

Congrats Gerry!! Just to let you know though, the top 3 in the PL this season go straight into the CL group stage next season. 4th place have to play a qualifying round.

Ger just because your opinion is an armchair one dosent make it any less legitimate or CORRECT. Your intelligence and rational mind told you that that midfield selection was a mistake hence your inevitable and sadly, later fulfilled ‘worries’. Ger you dont have to explain yourself to us. In fact I’d have been more concerned if you viewed the selection as correct and not a mistake. I too was dismayed (yet again) by another inexplicable selection in a must win game and said as much in here pre-game. Oh well..

Btw congrats on another well deserved award Ger. What odds on a hat-trick?!

Well done Gerry, great effort once again.
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Lads as disappointed as I am, I guess the season has given me more hope than not. However certain aspects have also shit me to tears.
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Ironically it’s not our win loss ratio that hurts, it’s our win draw ratio. Yes we’re hard to beat but yes we’re also frustrating to watch.
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I did some checking of previous statistics. I know they generally don’t mean much but here they go.
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2005 season finished with 82 points, 7 draws, 57 goals for and 32 goal difference.
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2006 season finished 68 points , 8 draws, 57 goals for and 30 goal difference.
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2007 season finished 76 points, 13 draws, 67 goals for and 39 goal difference.
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Present season I have projected on from current figures, please bear with me. We are scoring about 1.6 goals a game, and conceeding 0.9.
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Therefore if we win every game from this point in we will have 90 points. we currently have 15 draws, we will end up with 62 goals for and a goal difference of 36.
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As you can see the goal difference has stayed pretty much in the thirties, the goals scored has risen only maginally from 4 years ago, while the draw ration has increased every single year.
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This tells me that Rafa is a cautious man who doesn’t like to lose. The goal dipping rate is also further evidence of this, as most times we play 1 striker. Defensively we’ve stayed sound for the last 4 years.
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If we do reach 90 points, that tally would have won 3 years out of the last 4. Alas though this year looks like being a record year for someone.
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If you also look at the other big 4, it’s only United who have maintained the ratio’s from last year. Chelsea and Arsenal have dropped dramitically.
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Now next year, well Chelsea are already putting the wheels in motion for another push, Arsenal are ready to spend money, we’re still haggling over Rafa’s contract. This year we were presented with a real opportunity to take the title, lady luck played a part but she’s run our lately. Maybe our club sold her to RBS.
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Just my thoughts and opinions. I also can’t see how Rafa can stay if it’s taken this long to arrange the poor bastards contract.
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Bibliography.
Premierleague.com-2009
Gaz-2009

Glad you got the award Gerry, hell know you deserve it. As regards the game, I just saw goals and few highlights, not enough to form an opinion of the performance. But I do think that to win the league, you gotta beat Citeh, especially with the form they have been in. I bet they lose their next game. If we don’t win the league, the damage has already been done. And as the old saying goes; the league table doesn’t lie. Which makes sense of the season so far; riding luck with poor early form to win games, wondering when the luck would run out, and hoping that we find form when that happens. And it has happened that way. It’s just a shame that nobody else is challenging to prevent Utd from equaling our record, which, as a kid, I thought was unbreakable. I’ve gotten rid of all my frustrations and got most off my chest regarding Rafa, so I’m just melancholic at this stage. Some would call it giving up, I call it living with reality. And I as a Liverpool Fan, (like you all) have had plenty of experience of that over the years. In fact, I doubt we could challenge next season either. I just can’t see us making that leap in attitude and quality that is required. Because it is a night-and-day difference that is needed to move up to the next level. Some say we just need a proper winger and a right-back, but we need a lot more than a couple of players. I’m out of ideas now.

On the TIA forums, there is a claim (lent credibility by the other users) that during last summer, we had an offer of 28m for David Villa accepted by Valencia, only for Parry to go ahead with Keane. And this has been the cause of the behind-the-scenes tension. I do myself remember that Villa had said that he was very happy to stay an Valencia, so that is at odds with the claim, there seem to be many guys who vouch for the authenticity of the member. Hmmmm! If it’s true (and it wouldn’t surprise me if it was), it is a disgrace to the management of the board.

aiyic, we couldn’t afford to spend that money on Barry and Keane, without selling Alonso, so how were we every going to sign Villa.
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No one valued Alonso at the price we needed. Villa priced Barry above Alonso. I don’t car what anyone has said, Villa is out of our price range.

Gaz- Keane and Dossena fees make 28m.

I was watching the Man U match this weekend and at one point during open play I noticed that they had FOUR players inside the box and THREE outside spraying the ball around trying to get it inside. This from the team with the best defensive record in the league. Granted, their offensive weapons greatly outweigh ours but this is one big reason they are where they are and we are where we are. Let’s face it…Rafa is a conservative coach at best, who prefers quantity of possession over quality of possession. Other top teams straight away pass forward and attack whereas we keep passing sideways and backwards even when we have 2 or more players in the box! It’s so bloody frustrating! Carra is a great defender but he passes backwards more than any player I have seen! I would definitely prefer Skrtel and Agger to be our first choice central defense. Lucas is failing to show any real quality and Rafa keeps picking him over and over again!
It’s strange that our best game of the season had Rafa sitting up in the stands with Sammy Lee doing the shouting. Maybe we should try that again…
Congrats Gerry…

Congrats on the award Gerry, well-deserved again.

I thought much the same thing when I saw Dossena starting; without Alonso and SG in the middle, our midfield was ALWAYS going to struggle for creativity and passing range. Pepe Reina has got better passing range than Lucas, so not having Aurelio out there at all was to me a poor decision. I may not have had him in the middle, but at least out there to add some quality in bringing the ball up the park. When he did come on, he was instrumental in the goal – it was Aurelio’s perfect ball down the left which released Benayoun to set up the goal.

Until now, I’ve felt sorry for Lucas and stayed off his back, waiting for him to have had a chance to develop. I can do that no longer. He has had his chances to develop, and he is NOT good enough to be our central midfield cover. EVERY touch he does is a sideways or backwards pass of about 3-5 metres. We need to find a promising young creative midfielder from somewhere – or better still, we may have already found him in Pacheco, bulk the kid up and give him a chance…

Anyway, onwards now with our tails between our legs, confidence down, to play Real Madrid who’ve won about 10 straight and smashed it something like 6-1 over the weekend. Getting away with a draw or no worse than a 0-1 loss will actually be quite a good result.

Trevor Francis on Sky Sports tonight previewing our c.l draw: ‘ I cant think of another player who is as inspirational to their club as Steven Gerrard is to Liverpool. If hes fit and plays both ties then Liverpool should progress to the last 8′. Indeed sir. Indeed. And maureen: ‘in 14 or 15 days we’ll be celebrating our victory over manchester utd’. Dont fucken tease me jose! Make it happen!

Those are interesting stats gaz, but they only tell part of the story… would you not concede that part of the reason for this season’s stats is that the other teams in the prem are getting stronger?

If you look at the points spread in the Prem this season, its a close call all the way down, whereas in previous seasons there has been a massive points difference between the top half and bottom half.

I would agree that Rafa is a caution first guy, but I thinl its a bit easy to suggest that is the reason for our predicament.

Our players don’t swarm forward and hunt in packs the way Scum do, but on the field our’s don’t tend to move into space for a pass the way the Scum players do either.
And regardless of the instructions from the bench, you can get yourself open, or forward and into positions, without jeopardizing the defensive set-up.

I am amazed that the players get off almost scott-free from a lot of people. They may not be of the quality of Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, and Ronaldo (or even Nani and Anderson come to that?) (god that sticks in the throat to even suggest… I must go vomit now…) but so many of them are playing far below the level they are capable of and the level that we have seen them play at times.

Aitch I don’t see how we can say the competition is better when Man U are romping away with what could be a record tally. We have gone through the season with so far only 1 loss.
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It’s closer because we have been dragged back to the pack by draws. Chelsea and Arsenal have been up and down. Man U is making the same ground it did last year.
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The top two teams have only had 3 losses between them in 52 games. So I don’t see how the competition is better. We have drawn to many games.

Lads in relation to my stats up top, the 15 draws in the present season is my projected figure, as defined by the current ratio. The 90 points is if we win everyone from here in. However my ratio will cut our season total down to 85.
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Sorry for the mistake.

Congratulations and well done, gerry! A well-deserved one.

Aitch thats a very good question; why do so many of our players perform ‘far below the level they are capable of’? Why do players regress under Rafa? Babel? Masch? Alonso for coupla seasons (cant have all been injury related can it?) Keane? (easy to regress on bench I know) Even Riera at the moment. What is it about Rafas management style and football philosophy that stifles these players and hinders their abilities? I’ve got a couple of ideas mate…

That’s not what I was saying gaz.

The top 6 teams this season, are the same as the top 6 teams last season… but they are in a different order at the moment, and the point spread between the top 4 at any rate, is a smaller margin than it was last season.

Now take a look at the bottom 3 teams and how many points they have this season.
Now compare that to the bottom 3 teams last season.
And compare the point spread between… say, 12th and the bottom.

You can’t compare Derby of last season to West Brom (current last place team) of this season. West Brom are 8 points from 12th place… Derby were relegated before Xmas.

Surely that suggests its a tougher league to get results in?

Don’t get me wrong… I am a firm believer in the “it’s Man Citeh (or Stoke, or whoever) for fucks sake!” mentality… but if you’re gonna use a straight points statistic, you have to include all the data, or your results are skewed.

(well you don’t have to… but I’d like it if we were a bit more even handed about these things.)

Digger, I don’t know but do those ideas you have, provide you with any suggestion as to why Torres, Stevie, Alonso this season, Benny currently, Insua, Skrtel, Arebloa, Aurelio have all improved under Benitez?

And why more than a few of those mentioned have publicly stated they love playing for the man and feel they have grown and learned under his guidance?

And why is the idea never put forth that instead of the manager “stifling their talent”, maybe these players just can’t handle the pressure of making the step up to playing for Big Club, in front of 40,000 fans more desperate than a one-aremd, one-legged sailor in a capsizing boat, who stop singing if we don’t go 1-0 inside of 28 minutes, then create an atmosphere so tense and thick you cut cut it with knife and proceed to boo a player’s first misplaced pass like Arsenal fans at an Emanuel Ebouye Ralleye!

Come on Aitch! As I said to keith a while back not even Rafa could stifle greatness of Stevie and Torres’ magnitude! Its much easier to mould a lesser light to your line of thinking. Xabi has bounced back to his 05 06 form granted but I’d wager thats down to a little transfer speculation last summer! Ninja has been superb since word go (debut aside) so dont know if ‘improved’ applies. Aurelio and Benny I’ll give you, But Insua? More a product of youth system and own talent no?

Digger FFS just come out and say you want Rafa out of the club, period. You have been implying it for the whole season

Implying? Nah, I merely point out his mistakes when he makes them Akka. Its just he’s made quite a few this year and I believe they’ve cost us the league, they were avoidable and it just grinds my gears is all. To be fair Akka I do praise him when he gets it right as I did after his Aurelio experiment at pompey. Also on last blog I highlighted his strength (c.l) and stated I believe we’ll knockout Madrid. Be nice Akka! I call it as I see it bro, strengths AND weaknesses.

So if a player excells, he has natural unstifleable greatness, was a product of the youth system, was already great to begin with and recovered his greatness as the result of a kick up the backside…

… but if a player falls to shit… the only posssible, fathomable, explainable reason is that Rafa stifled them!

bit one sided, No?

Its not the only possible reason but its certainly a major factor. When your managers doctrine is one of caution first football then yes its gonna restrict your natural instinct towards taking a risk or a chance. Yes your gonna err on the side of caution and play that square ball or pass it back. Afterall, he’s the boss and your fulfilling his vision of how the game should be played. Plus you want to be picked next week! I’m not saying he’s the only reason Aitch but certainly the most prominent one.

Aitch I don’t know how much more even handed I can be, I only highlighted some interesting facts.
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This season there is 4 points between 2nd and 4th, the team coming last is 8 points from 12th.
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Last season there was 4 point between 1st and 3rd, the team coming second last was 8 points from 12th, that being Birmingham. The only real difference was Derby who were gone while WBA is one point below Middlesborough.
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Really there isn’t that much difference. Anyway just thought people might like to know. That’s as even handed as I can find.

All i can is, The best blog around won.. You deserved it fair and sqaure gerry.
Awesome stuff you write..

But about supporting the Gaffer, i don’t know. His blind faith in using some shittest players sometimes leaves me so baffled. Zenden, mark Gonzalez n now Lucas is filling that spot. I cannot believe. He has played i guess 2-3 games nicely.. thats it.. n still he’s up in the pecking order. I actually feel Spearing can do a better job than him. Rafa let go of Guthrie who also is doing wayyy better than lucas.
Rafa is too adamant i feel..

DOES ANYONE BELIEVE YOUNG LUCAS IS PLAYING OR DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT TO EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS BEEN TOLD TO DO ? HE IS APPEARING FAIRLY REGULAR NOW….CAN HE REALLY BE GOING AGAINST INSTRUCTION ?

Congrats Gerry on your award. It is well deserved. Soon you will have a bigger trophy cabinet than the Toffees

Congrats ‘ordinary blogging God’

Congratulation Gerry, nothing more than you deserve.

It’s a funny old life. We have the financial capacity of a mid table team, a management structure that undermines the manger at will, second guessing him and deciding that a CEO is more entitled to use his judgment with regards to the players Liverpool needs in order to challenge than the Manager who’s job it is to do just that. We have fans that boo youngsters and create atmospheres that will tighten and put more pressure on the players before halftime because we are not leading. We have our 32 goal a season top striker injured for nearly half the season, our inspirational Captain, our second top goal scorer, not to mention the small fact of being our most creative influence and driving force injured for a third of the season. Yet by some miracle we are second behind a team that have 9 players worth 50 mill more than our entire squad of 21 and it is Rafa’s fault that he cannot get the best out of his squad and win the league.

I wonder who need the reality check. Having inherited probably the worst squad in our History, rebuilt it with an average spend of less than 3 mill per player, including all the young talented reserves for the future, having one of the youngest squads in the prem, still being able to win us a CL, FA, Super Cup and all the other finals and semi finals as well. With the very strong possibility of finishing second and with an improved level of performance both points and position wise under trying conditions and he is determined a failure and should give way to God knows what Manger that could do better.

It’s like saying it is the driver’s fault that his ford focus did not win against the Porsche. Instead of saying with the disadvantage the driver had, he did an excellent job to get as close as he did. You can also throw in 21 years of development compared to 5 years.

It seems the popular opinion, except Rafa’s, would be that Aurelleo should have played before Lucas on the strength of his showing at P’Smith. Yes there is merit it that opinion. However P’Smith attacked, leaving space behind that could be exploited, much the same way Newcastle did when Lucas had probably his best game. City played deep, much the way Fulham, Stoke etc, played at Anfield, with Gerrard and Alonso in the middle and we failed to break them down. So although it is a reasonable call, even if it is after the fact there would have still been no guarantees. We still created over 20 chances that we should have taken, that is a fact. The rest is speculation. Please lets apportion the blame in a reasonable manner and not just lump it all at the Managers feet because the players fail to live up to our expectations or our comparisons with the Man U squad who can steal 9 1-0 wins because of their depth of quality that could easily resulted in 3 or 4 1-1 draws, while we end up with 1-1, 0-0 draws.

reds-a-run-tings, it’s a major no-no to use caps-lock, no. It’s like you’re shouting. I do think that Lucas, if let off the leash, would be a different player. He’s put into the Alonso role when Alonso is out, and is put into the Masch role when Masch is out. But neither is his natural game so, I he is following instructions to the letter, but to the best of his ability. He is closer to Stevie than the other two. He’s not a tackler, but he does get stuck in, and he does “show up” for that part, even though it’s not his strength, but he DOESN’T try the long-range passing, because he knows he won’t pull it off.

The job he does, I think he does it well, he’s not asked to do any more than than that, so don’t expect any more than that. If you’ve seen him in the reserves, he’s the type to arrive late in the box for a shot, now neither Alonso nor Masch (can?) do that. And another thing, there is a saying that – if a lie is told enough times, it becomes the truth – and this is the case with Lucas. He does play well. He actually does if you watch a game, and I often do that twice. So a lot of the ‘analysis’ is poor. Mascherano hasn’t showed up for most of the season, and you don’t hear a murmur about him, so a lot of what’s said, is “the wisdom of crowds”.

Akka, as regards Diggerno.10 not quite going the whole way in saying that he wants Rafa out, I think he did before, but this time I think he is putting an explanation forward for our shortfalls.

We’ve drawn 10 games this season. If we won 4 of those and lost 6 we’d have more points than we do now. Simple maths I know but I can’t help wonder if we threw more caution to the wind in those 10 games we might have won more of them and maybe lost a few but got more points than we have now. 6 draws at Anfield this season, if we went more gung ho could we have won 3 of them and maybe lost 3? Again that would have brought more points. Attacking subs made in the 83rd minute annoy me. And when I say attacking subs I mean taking off a defender or defensive midfield player and putting on a striker or winger. Seems we only have the balls to do that with 7 mins left or when the opposition team is down to 10 men.

You can’t tip toe your way to winning the Premier league title. You have to win game after game putting teams away with confidence to give yourself belief and make your rivals scared. Not struggle to draw against or beat shite teams at home. Think of the champions since 2004.

2004 Arsenal 90 pts 26 wins 73 goals
2005 Chelsea 95 pts 29 wins 72 goals
2006 Chelsea 91 pts 29 wins 72 goals
2007 Man Utd 89 pts 28 wins 83 goals
2008 Man Utd 87 pts 27 wins 80 goals

When was the last time we scored more than 70 league goals? 1995-96 under Roy Evans. Last time we won 25 games or more was 2005-06 under Rafa where we won 25. We’re pretty sure we aint good enough to win the league this year but can we our own records to show progress?

We’re currently on course for 80 points if you take the average so far and mutliply it by 38. The same calculation gives a projection of 22 wins and 63 goals. None is good enough really.

Well done Gerry, well deserved and it couldn’t have happened to a more……… er, modest guy!

As far as Rafa’s negativity being the principal reason for our failure to win the PL, all I can say is that I believe this is partly true, but also woeful finishing/spurned chances bust also be held culprable.

How many chances have we created and not taken in our 10 drawn games thus far this season?

Perhaps the most worrying factor is the fact that against City we didn’t create as many chances as in previous games (although we were without our two best creative midfielders of course) with just a little luck Kuyt and Benny’s pole drivers would have hit the net (or at least one of them) instead of being hit straight at a very good goalkeeper.

Man U seem to convert a higher number of the chances they carve out than we do, so our we to assume that we simply don’t have enough all round quality in the last third to have turned at least half of our 10 drawes to date into wins? I think this is the other part of the reason for our failings, right up there with Rafa’s negativity.

Rafa’s negativity could be the reason why Stevie G was withdrawn against Wigan with around 7 minutes to go, the score at 1-1. Rafa says he was protecting the player, but who else weas there who might create something? Stevie has done it so often in the past. Why take him off for the sake of seven minutes?

Congrats Gerry!

I agree with your views. Aurelio should have played instead of Lucas. However i dont agree on the Babel issue. I think he has gone down in terms of his confidence when he is on the ball. He was better last season. Maybe affect of not starting him on most of the occasions.

I actually think Rafa has done a great job in bringing Liverpool to this position. I have always said that in terms of squad strength we are no where near Manchester United. We are better than Arsenal now and probably Chelsea too. Thats why i believe that Rafa has done a better job at Anfield compared to any other manager. Looking at the problems we face(Contract Issue,Agger issue,Owners)i think we have done well. I still not think that we are out of the race. It all depends on how we play our next 2 matches leading up to the Old trafford clash.

My suggestion would be:

Having given Rafa time for 5 years, i think he should be allowed to continue and i dunno how but from somewhere we need to buy 2-3 quality attacking players(Silva,Santa Cruz, Lennon maybe). The title will be ours.

Actually I was a little worried when I saw the lineup. Lucas in the middle (I was afraid he’d give away dangerous free kicks / penalties), and Dossena instead of Aurelio.

However, Dossena has been playing quite well lately, and I guess Rafa wanted Aurelio against Real. But I think we’ve really missed Aurelio taking the set pieces in the first half (some free kicks in dangerous areas spring to mind). So, in hindsight, I think Rafa made a mistake in fielding Dossena instead of Aurelio.

As for Lucas, he had an okay game yesterday, but he just doesn’t inspire confidence. with his play this season, Newcastle game is probably the only exception. It’s a bit like watching Traore in the old days (the guy can really tackle well, but his positional / ball sense is bad). Likewise, Lucas just doesn’t seem to exhibit the confidence and balance to tackle and spray passes over the field. In both cases, I get scared watching them play for Liverpool.

I think Rafa also made a mistake in taking out Masch instead of Lucas when we were going all out searching for the winner, as we just couldn’t win back possession (resulting in time wasting) after the ball had been given away. Moreover, I think Masch is better than Lucas at winning the ball back and charging at the opposition in an attacking sense (remember Man U goal against Giggs?)

Well, that is also said in hindsight and I think we should be fair to Rafa, as nobody gets everything right all the time.

It’s amazing the press is saying we have absolutely no chance in winning the league but I’ll reserve my judgment until after the game at Old Toilet. They just can’t possibly win all the way from end December to May!

If we can string a run together, we still have a chance….

Very poignant stats there LB, and a good indicator as to what I think is the major reason why Man U have been so successful in the last decade, and particularly of late – their focus on attack. Fergie is basically given whatever money he wants, and he ensures that he always has one of the top 2 or 3 strikers in the league in his team. Of course he can do this because he is given the money for it, and strikers are of course the most expensive commodity.

So, is the fact that we have only 1 world-class striker Rafa’s fault? Largely not of course – he hasn’t been given the funds for it. There is an argument to say he should have held off on a few of the mid-range signings and put all those eggs in a world-class player basket, but when you’re on a limited budget, is that being responsible to the club? If that 1 world-class player gets injured or doesn’t perform, we not only miss out on the #1 goal of winning the league, our shortcomings we passed over could easily then cost us a spot in the Champions League the following year… and start the kind of downward spiral that is very hard to recover from.

At the end of the day we can criticise all the minor mistakes we think we see Rafa making through the year – myself included – things like leaving out Aurelio yesterday, taking off SG early against Wigan, etc etc – but the reality is that LB’s stats show we are likely to finish the season with roughly 5 or 6 wins less than the champions and perhaps 7-10 goals less (I don’t think Man U will end up with a big goal total this year). That’s actually a pretty big difference and probably a pretty fair indication of the gap between the quality of attack between our squads.

HOWEVER – I honestly don’t feel like we have any glaring gaps in our squad such that THIS summer, it would be a big risk to put all our eggs in one basket by buying a true world-class, goal-scoring winger or 2nd striker. We need better cover at right-back but if Arbie gets injured, move Carra there and give Agger the games he deserves – so no need to spend much out there. The ideal situation for me is Aston Villa missing out on a top 4 spot, Barry joining us in a cut-price deal to give us cover in 3 positions, and Rafa spending over 20mill on a world-class attacking player.

Andy, read the second paragraph of #10. Long story short, 28m would have been better spent on David Villa, than Keane and Dossena. I disagree with your last point of not putting all our eggs in one basket. This is exactly what we have been doing wrong for years. And I’m sorry, but we desperately need right-back cover. Even Jamie himself says he’s not up to the task of all that running when he deps for Arbie.

Steve, its definitely a combination of things. Rafa’s conservative, strategic nature coupled with a lack of individual quality in the final 3rd. I have a theory that Rafa’s approach is a contributing factor to some players not excelling in the final third. If in training sessions at Melwood you are concentrating on team shape, being compact, defending, set pieces, fitness etc how do you expect a player to be at Anfield against a well organised team defending deep? I don’t pretend to know what training is like under Rafa but my guess is a lot more emphasis is placed on those aspects I just mentioned than there is on over lapping full back play, quick give and goes, getting to the byline, committing midfielders in the box etc.
Natural great players like Gerrard and Torres do well regardless but the players just below that level. The Kuyt, Babel, Riera, Benny, Keane’s of this world tend to struggle don’t they? Benny is only just showing his West Ham form now, Riera has regressed, Babel has regressed, so has Kuyt when you compare him to his first few matches for the club and I won’t talk about Keane.

Why have none of these players excelled beyond our wildest expectations?

Signings over the last 2 years. Torres, Masch, Keane, Babel, Dossena, Lucas, Riera. £90m. How much high class consistent performers amongst those 7 players?

And I’d like to add; 1 Torres, is better than 13.333 Ngogs.

Congrats Gerry. For some reason I had no doubt Kopblog would sweep the awards. It’s a fantastic site. I love this: I can assure you that this award will not change me or make me arrogant in any way. I will remain just an ordinary blogging God and just like before, should you ever be fortunate enough to meet me in person remember to avert your eyes from my magnificence and I think a slight courtesy might also be appropriate. Sublime!

It’s very difficult analyzing anything in life, honestly. Not at the beginning (where you can’t see the future), the middle (where your view’s clouded by both the past and an uncertain future), and at the end (where it all starts adding up). It’s even worse if it’s your neck on the line while doing the analysis, in this case Rafa.

Armchair opinions obviously abound. It’s not only you Gerry who conjures up infinite permutations and combinations of players. Sunday was always going to be frustrating for me, which I shared with my best pal, Wycliffe. I shared my feeling about how dangerous Man City are offensively. We saw glimpses of that at Eastlands. Not that I thought they’d beat us, but just thought they’d be a nuisance. Adding Bellamy to the mix made it even harder for us. In truth, I also worried about the absence of Alonso and Gerrard. Where would our creative spark come from?

I didn’t over worry though because I know we might not always win, or win much, but we’re devilishly hard to beat too! Let’s be fair there.

One thing I’ll keep insisting, no one’s won anything yet, neither has anything been lost yet. We’re getting sucked into what the media is saying. They love failure at Anfield and like our manager even less. It’s factual, not excuses. If we’re so unimportant and insignificant, why all the bottles of ink on all matters Liverpool FC? The media even joins Everton in celebrating our ouster from the FA Cup. Well, what had EFC signed up in that tourney to do? Get dumped?

Has MUFC won no. 18 yet? Haven’t any of us seen a 12-point lead evaporate (When Man U disintegrated and allowed Arsenal a win in 1998)? Is it impossible for the unheralded Reds to win no. 19? Well, Arsenal needed to score twice at Anfield to win in 1989? Did much vilified Benitez not engineer that come from behind league win for Los Ches (Valencia), the first of two La Liga wins for an unfashionable side outside of Barcelona and Madrid?

Let’s stop this defeatism and defeatist attitude. How many records do we keep confounding as Reds? How many teams wish they had half the gaffer we have? Interestingly, we’ve all fallen prey to Rafa’s brand of analysis………..WE NOW SOUND SO MUCH LIKE HIM IN OUR MATCHES! Wow. How about that?

I know we’ll lift # 19 this year. I don’t know how, but know we will. Twelve games aren’t many, but neither are they few. No ONE’S WON/LOST ANYTHING YET!

I’ll keep believing, starting with a win tomorrow at the Bernabeau. Let everyone keep underestimating the Kopites at their own peril – humans never learn from history, do they?

I’ll keep the eternal flames of hope burning, in this year of Hillsborough’s memorial. I’ll believe for all our doubters who don’t.

Go Reds. Show the Madiristas that we’re the Reds and they aren’t. YN(Ever)WA!

I am inclined to agree with your post (#42) LB.

Tetteh Otuteye (TIA) has put together a very interesting article that is well worth a read.

In his article “Is the grass really greener on the other side?” Tetteh makes the point that Rafa should be given more time, and that we have made gradual progress under his management. He goes on to look at reasons why managers being touted for the Liverpool job would not be suitable, namely Martin O’neill, Jose Mourinho and…… er, Frank Rijkaard???

He says that with a decent transfer kitty, Rafa could get the players we are missing. The problem with this of course, as we all know, is that under our current regime Rafa can whistle for more transfer funds.

Have a read of the article when you get time and let us know what you think!

Keith well said in #34 mate, thats exactly what i want to say everytime i get onto this website, but then i am too frustrated after reading all the comments.

As for rafas supposed negativity. FFS if in games that we drew we had 70% possession, had over 20 chances and virtually did not allow the other team out of their defensive half what else can the manager do. Sub himself on and bloody score a goal himself.

Man utd up front have 3 x 30mil strikers. Look at the cost of their defenders (ala Vidic). Then when rafa has to purchase a defender with little resources and his 4th preference and he isnt world class everyone calls for Rafas head. Rafa managed to un-earth Agger and Skrtel for peanuts, and yes dossenna isnt looking great, but for not a first preference and for considerably less for what wing backs are worth we want rafas head again.

LB, kuyt has gone backwards? Having a laugh mate. I think he is on of the most consistent performers. Also MOTM against city.

Steve, I have read the article. I’ve actually read a few of Tetteh Otuteye’s articles. He has a very similay opinion to KeithSA regarding Rafa. No disrespect to Keith as there a lot of valid points made and alot of what he says makes total sense. I think he wrote off other possible managers a bit too easily though. For example he said of Mourinho that he was similar to Rafa in his defensive make up. The biggest difference is that Maureen would throw on 3 subs at half time to change a match and not be afraid to drag off defenders for strikers. Whereas Rafa would wait until 65 mins to make the first sub which is usually a like for like switch, then between 75 and 85 mins he might make further changes.

If you look at where we were when Rafa first arrived we have indeed made progress. No doubt.
Success can’t be guaranteed by any other coach but at the same time it’s not 100% certain doom and gloom if Rafa was replaced.

We’ll never know how Rafa will do with a budget the size of the mancs or Chelsea unless he actually has that kind of money to spend. I agree that no manager will enjoy the current structure of our club. It’s a fucking mess. Hopefully that mess will be sorted in the summer. Things could look a lot different in a few months. There is still the small matter of a £350m loan that needs paying.

My main source of frustration is the last 2 seasons especially where our play has not greatly improved and in terms of attacking quality we don’t seem to have moved on from 2006 a great deal. We’re more difficult to beat, we compete better against the top sides but we couldn’t open up a can of coke let alone a stubborn defensive unit at Anfield. Our quality of passing and ability to open up teams has remained stagnant despite signing Torres, Babel, etc etc…. But no question he has fixed the mess Houllier caused during his final 2 seasons.

I have a question. Although we have definitely imrpoved from the 2003-04 season is the current first team better than the team of 2001-02 or 2005-06? What do you lads think?

2001-02

Dudek
Babbel Hyypia Henchoz Carra
Barmby Gerrard Hamman Murphy
Owen Heskey

Subs: Fowler, Anelka, Litmanen, Riise, McAllister, Smicer, Berger, Biscan

2005-06

Reina
Finnan Carra Hyypia Riise
Gerrard Alonso Sissoko Kewell
Cisse Crouch

Subs: Morientes, Garcia, Hamann, Traore, Warnock, Zenden, Fowler, Pongolle

Akka, Vidic cost less than Dossena. Tevez, isn’t he still on loan? I don’t like to use the word “negativity” about Rafa. “Caution”, is more accurate. And LB says it very well, about if we were to go for it more, we might lose more, but (heaven forbid) we might win more. The three points for a win system is lost on Rafa. It was brought in to reward effort in trying to score.

Akka, I’m not having a laugh at all. we signed Kuyt as a striker mate. He was in the Holland squad as a striker. When he came he looked superbly confident in front of goal. I remember him doing give and goes with Gerrard and Garcia and particularly looked great against Spurs at Anfield a couple of seasons back. You trying to tell me he hasn’t gone backwards in that respect? He played well against Man City granted. But when we first signed him I considered him a regular threat to the opposition. I can’t say the same now. All credit to the unearthing of some very good defenders. Rafa’s ability to find a good defender or build a strong defense has never been in doubt. No other manager gets close to him in that respect.

LondonBarnes, I actually think that the 01/02 team would compare better than what we have now. Apart from Torres of course. The subs bench would walk into our current squad.

In fact LB, looking at it again, three of them are still part of the major set-up, and two of them were home grown. Sheesh! Imagine they never came through!

Akka, regarding Kuyt, consistency doesn’t equate to being good. He has been poor most of the season. But hasn’t been the only one in fairness to him.

Well once again Gerry wins another award once again Scum get a “favour”
Wanker should have been off (before he scored) kicking out in front of the ref
Rafael should have been off for the pen that never was given (last man)
but as Ferguscum probably told Big Sam its against the rules.
As for our game didn’t Dunne handle a goal bound header from Benny
wasn’t a city player about to get a deserved second yellow which somehow
ended up with Elhazar .
It would seem the FA want Scum to win or Liverpool not to win .
QED nothing changes
YNWA

LB, of the players you mentioned in the previous years, Jari Litmanen was absolutely wasted by GH.

He would give so much to our current squad. Obviously he is to old now, but let’s say a 30 year old Jari added to our current squad would make a great difference, another player to unlock a tight defence.

The current squad is good, but just lacks imagination and guile, that nouse of knowing how to break teams down. We aren’t looking likely to being able to compete financially with Man.U so in one respect, as you said the other day LB, we have done well to carry a title challenge into February instead of faltering in November as usual.

I don’t think any of the other players from previous squads that you listed would improve our current squad, only Litmanen.

I don’t want to sound negative guys, but we are now in a scrap with Chelsea for the runners-up spot, something that we last achieved in 2002 with 80 points (if memory serves me right)

For me, the 2 dropped points at home against Man.City on Sunday was the surrender of our already very slim title hopes, that’s it gone for another season. We should be getting used to it by now. However, I really do believe we can win the CL, but Aitch, please don’t ask me why, it’s just a gut feeling, ever had one of those?

I said about 18 months ago that I thought we would win the Prem in 2010, and the CL in 2009, picturing a glory night in Rome. Christ, I hope I’m right!

Bit of history… When Arsenal overcame a 12 point deficit to catch and surpass Man Utd in 1997-98 they did so by winning their last 13 matches straight.
I am certain 12 wins out of 12 would win us the title but I think there is more chance getting a wank off the Queen than us winning 12 straight.

LB

I like markus babbel as right back.. from 01-02
and gerrard on the right … from 05-06

CB pairing of Skrtel and Dagger..

Owen – heskey and Torres – Kuyt..i will take the latter, due to the fact when we played with owen heskey, we tend to play lots of high ball into the opposition half..

Oh jesus LB, ha ha!

There is one measure of hope for me, and that’s Utd’s confidence, and if it gets a knock or two, it could be very detrimental to their campaign. With us, we have to build ours, and we have a couple of games to get that going. With Utd, they have to contend with Inter, and all the bells and whistles that go with that. Ours is more of a classic in the making because we don’t have to deal with a mouthy manager.

So like someone said before, the CL could be a turning point for both us and Utd.

Getting a wank off the queen would probably make less headlines than LFC pulling it round now. Personally, I would prefer the latter, although the former would make me a very rich man!

Thir13, I really admire your confidence in LFC, and I’m not saying that in an ironic way either.

The trouble is, as has been well documented, we don’t seem to be able or willing to throw caution to the wind anywhere near enough to be able to have even an outside chance of winning 12 Prem games on the spin, especially when alot of those games will be 3 days after the last game, and we all know how Rafa likes his fresh legs. Lucas will play plenty! Nice thought though!

Steve, it depends on our CL progression. If we get knocked out by Real Madrid (which is a realistic possibility) we’ll have one competition to play for. So we could have a finish like in 2005-06 where after getting knocked out the CL by Benfica our last 12 league games went like this:
Won 10. Drew 1. Lost 1.

I remember that season very well. Reina, Finnan, Carra, Hyypia, Riise, Kewell, Momo, Alonso, Gerrard, Crouch played every week from February and all were in very good form. Only Cisse, Morientes and Fowler got rotated.

I’m not sure if the current TEAM is better than that one.

If any of what I’m hearing/reading is true, then it seems that some of the Real Madrid fraternity are getting just a little too confident about their chances against us. If this is the case, it will suit us fine. I think we will get a draw there and beat beat them 2-1 at Anfield.

Congratulations Gerry, very well deserved.

Maybe it’s better that you couldn’t go to Cork. The barmen, probably, would have been on strike anyway, because they weren’t allowed to pick their own hotel manager…. So you wouldn’t have even got a drink!!!!

2005-06 run in… (last 12 games)

Man City (h) W 1-0 Kewell (40)
Charlton (h) D 0-0
Arsenal (a) L 1-2 Garcia (76)
Fulham (h) W 5-1 Fowler (16), OG – Brown (34), Morientes (71), Crouch (89), Warnock (90)
Newcastle (a) W 3-1 Crouch (10), Gerrard (35), Cisse (pen 52)
Everton (h) W 3-1 OG – Neville (45), Garcia (47), Kewell (84)
West Brom (a) W 2-0 – Fowler (7), Cisse (38)
Bolton (h) W 1-0 – Fowler (45)
Blackburn (a) W 1-0 – Fowler (29)
West Ham (h) W 2-1 – Cisse 2 (19, 54)
Aston Villa (h) W 3-1 – Morientes (4), Gerrard 2 (61, 66)
Portsmouth (a) W 3-1 – Fowler (52), Crouch (84), Cisse (89)

Keithsa I hope you dont think I’m picking on you mate but I

My confidence in overhauling the Mancs is not the greatest, but it’s not over just yet. A famous baseball expression from here in the States is “Ya Gotta Believe!” from the 1973 New York Mets.

It’s funny, Barca (the hottest team in Europe this season) finally drop points this weekend and Real Madrid cut the lead to 7 points. La Liga title race is on!

We drop two points further behind the Mancs over the weekend to fall 7 points behind. Barclay’s Premiership is over!

If we can win at OT, the Mancs would be 4 points ahead of us. Their schedule includes matches against Villa and Arsenal, and I’m sure they will drop points along the way to a Wigan/Boro/Citeh type opponent.

Just take a peek at last season for a little inspiration. We headed into the 1st leg of the Inter CL tie fresh off a shocking FA Cup loss to Barnsley and in the midst of a terrible run of form in the league (1 win, 5 draws, 1 loss).

That CL tie with Inter seemed to galvanize the squad, established the 4231 formation for the balance of the season, and led us onto a run to close the season which had us at the top of the form table.

Perhaps history can repeat itself, although we can’t afford to lose points at OT like last season.

LVCmac the difference between the PL and Laliga right now is that Real have momentum by being 12 points behind a couple of weeks ago to 7 points behind now. They’ve strung together a shit load of wins in a row. Hence the belief in Spain that they might be able to do something. In our case, when we beat Newcastle we went 10 points clear of United. Fast forward 2 months and there has been an 17 point swing.

Ofcourse it can course change again. But I find it difficult to believe that we’ll get 8 more points than them in the remaining 12 games of the season.

By the way, Sunderland don’t have a match this weekend due to Spurs playing in the Mickey Mouse Cup final. The game scheduled for this weekend was moved to 7 March.

We play Wed in Madrid, Saturday away to Boro, and Tuesday home to Sunderland.

Sunderland played the Arse last Saturday, no game over this upcoming weekend, and then here on Tuesday.

I hope I’m not reading too much into all of this, but tomorrow night in Madrid will be a tough one, and we most likely will struggle on Saturday. Those away league matches after a mid-week CL game seem to always be tough ones for us.

Good post in 35 Aiyic, you and I don’t normally agree on a lot of things. I do tend to watch Lucas more carefully because of all the flak he gets. He has actually got a good long incisive pass at times, hence the Gerrard goal at Newcastle and I think he has out performed, in a offensive role, Masch on every occasion they have played together. However when a team sits deep, even Gerrard and Alosno struggle to find the right pass to unlock the defense, hence our frustration at all the missed passes Gerrard makes at times. Is that down to the movement up front or bad passing? I don’t believe Lucas is as near as bad as everybody is making out.

We lack consistent alternative goal threats when the chances arise and we are missing Gerrard or Torres. As good as Benny is playing he is guilty of missing chances as is Riera, Babbel and Kuyt that need to be taken more regularly to keep pace with ManU. Just 4 extra chances taken and we would be ahead of them. That extra bit of quality (cost the most) that will convert more than they miss. The missed penalty or offside goal or sending off, such small margins between success and coming second.

LB there are plenty of Queens in London who will do the business for you so I presume that the Title is a sure thing for us?

I think it is a long shot to win, but I have not written it off entirely and come the end of the season there will be a few more surprises and it could be closer than we think at the moment. I also think ManU have had a large slice of luck at the moment, when things have not quite fallen our way, with decisions and rub of the green going against us. However we are not a million miles of the pace, have plenty of young exciting talent coming through in terms of creativity and quality finishing potential so we have more reason to be upbeat than down. I think it would be a disaster if Rafa walked or was fired and would set us back considerably. All those people climbing on the Maureen bandwagon remember, he inherited a 2nd place team spent another shitload of money, could only get the better of us over a long season by virtue of that large quality squad, but when it came to a cup competition Rafa out thought and out maneuvered him every time. Be careful of what you wish for, you might just get it.

lvcjmac Do you mean when Steve Bennet won it for scum.
thir 13( comment 44) thats what i said at half time in Istanbul and we won that.
YNWA

LB, I hear what you’re saying, but things can be deceiving.

For example, since losing at Arsenal, the Mancs have taken 41 out of 45 points in the league, including 10 wins on the trot. Say what you want about them, that’s impressive form.

Real Madrid have won 9 in a row since losing at Barca right before Christmas.

The law of averages say that both of these teams are due to drop some points between now and the end of the season. It’s football, the unexpected tends to happen quite regularly.

My point is, I’m not ready to concede anything to the Mancs just yet. I choose to believe.

Urgh…. Dudek to start in goal for Real? Is the writing on the cards already? What are the odds he’ll have the game of his life?

I hate shit like that. Like when the fuckin commentator says… Man City haven’t won away in 13 games… and bang, they get a point against us.

Now as far as the league goes. Well yes, as LB stated and a few others have, we pretty much need to win all our remaining games now. Another draw will effectively end any hope at all.

And the question is… can we do that. Well based on the performance of the past weekend, there’s no fuckin way in hell is there?
But that’s the frustrating thing about this LFC team… they are fully capable of throwing that off and stepping up a gear and going on a run.

The key ties are those against Scum, Aston Villa and Arsenal. And Scums corresponding fixtures against US, A.V. and the Arse.

We would need to win all 3 of those for sure.
And those 3 fixtures probably represent the most likely places for Scum to drop 9 points.

But of course, we need to win against the rest as well and that’s been the problem for us.

“there are plenty of Queens in London who will do the business for you”

Nice One Keith!

OOPS! Anyway, Keithsa I hope you dont think I’m picking on you mate but I just have to take you up on some of your points. I know our back and forths have boiled over in the past but I genuinely hope this dosent and I’ll use as neutral language as I can to prevent that.
Alright, ‘we have the financial capacity of a mid-table team’? Really? What mid-table team (apart from spurs and they’ve been essentially a top six team for the last 4 or 5 years) have spent 180mil in the last 5yrs? I really cant name one mate. Try as I might I just cant. So I dont buy that arguement in Rafas defence at all.
As regards fans that boo youngsters and create tense atmospheres here again I think your a tad off track. If Im correct, the booing part of your statement is in reference to Lucas performance against Fulham at Anfield. Keith never once was Lucas booed during that game. Watch the full 90 again and give me a minute in the game where he was booed. Yes there were moans and groans as misplaced pass followed misplaced pass but he was never booed. The booing you refer to occured when rafa subbed off Mascherano and left Lucas, who was clearly having one to forget, on the pitch. The boos were directed at Rafa and his substitution not at our young Lucas! As for the tight pressure inducing atmospheres that you mention, well maybe if we scored a damn goal before halftime once in a while the tangible anxiety of ‘i’ve seen this movie before’ in the fans wouldent be transmitted to the pitch! I cant remember the last time we scored in the first half at Anfield!
Next point of contention; you say that Stevie has missed (or will miss?) a third of the season. Either way I’ll wager a large slice of humble pie with you Keith that he has neither missed a third of our games so far or will as a result of this current injury. He’s in the squad for tomorrow, what did he miss? A couple of games?
Again Keith I hope you dont think I’m on your case but you throw out these points as justification for your defence of Rafa and there simply not accurate.
Anyway, you go on to suggest that Rafa inherited ‘probably the worst squad in our history’. Really Keith? I’d argue that the squad Shanks inherited and took from the second division to the first was, in all probability, worse than the one Rafa inherited. I’d add that the one Roy inherited in ’93 was considerably worse than that of Rafas. In fact theres no real comparison. You see Keith I think you just got lazy on this one bro. You’re so devoted in your perpetual defence of Rafa, regardless of the point or circumstance, that you just blithely come out with whatever feels right. It is Rafa you’re defending afterall, it couldent be wrong, could it? How could it be if he’s never wrong, right?! Look Keith I know you probably dident mean it as ‘worst squad ever’, you’re too smart for that, like I said you just got lazy or carried away again in your over-zealous defence of Rafa but do you see my point? I mean how could anyone justifiably say that and consider it valid sensible debate in relation to the pros and cons of Rafa. To me it just highlights your willingness to forego reality and facts in a the-means-justify-the-ends way of defending Rafa. I mean its a myth bro, yes there were some dregs in there (as there are now I might add) but by and large the team Rafa inherited was populated by uefa cup and F.A cup winners, top quality footballers i.e Gerrard, Carragher, Hamman, Hypia, Risse, Owen etc. The spine of an excellent team was in place, he won the champions league in his first year with them for fucks sake! The worst squad in history? Hardly.
Your facile ford focus\Porsche analogy dosent stand up to scrutiny either mate. ‘Disadvantage’ Keith? How about ADVANTAGE? You see Keith at the midway point in this race the Ford Focus was halfway round the track (in a one lap race for arguements sake) whilst the Porsche hadent even started its engine yet. The Ford Focus should have won the race Keith but its driver took his foot off the gas.
As for the Lucas vs Aurelio debate yes there are no gurantees Keith but everyman and his dog agrees mate that retaining Aurelio in the middle would have given us the best chance of winning that game. It unquestionably would have been a stronger 11. To a man almost everyone can see that. Everyone except you! Common sense and popular opinion be damned! I’m backing Rafa anyway!! How could everyone else be right and Rafa wrong?! Though to be fair, you did say it was a reasonable call (to start Aurelio) so I guess I should be happy, cant believe you even ceded that much! i.e its possible that Rafa MAY have made a mistake!
Btw mate neither Gerrard or Alonso (still kills me) started against Fulham.
Look Keith before I finish up I just want to point out again that this is not an attack on you mate. I dont know what it is about your style of writing, well I guess its the content really, that gets me everytime. Sometimes when I’m reading your posts it feels like I’m reading a propaganda piece or something and its so far from reality that I’m stunned into responding. I think what kills me the most is that I can deduce from having read your posts for over 2 years is that you are clearly an intelligent and lucid man and sometimes marrying some of the statements to the man can be seriously mystifying. Anyway for what its worth Keith I do genuinely respesct and admire your unconditional devotion to Rafa. It is so strong I’d liken it to religous faith. When I ask a person of faith ‘but how do you KNOW theres a God?’ they invariably reply ‘I just know’. I know this might be strange way to end this post Keith but I feel your faith in Rafa is of a similar vein. You just know. And nothing will ever deter or deviate you from that faith. And thats fair enough. I guess theres just a bit more of a cynic in me eh? Anyway, I guess overall I’m saying maybe dont play so loose and fast with the facts bro and maybe just consider he is mortal and does make mistakes eh? Hope I dident offend you and your not burning up the keyboard right now! I know our debates reach boiling point faster than my jocks when Millie clodes presenting but there you go! Ali had frazier, Leonard had Haggler, LB had FS, I guess you got me Keith!! Right I’m off to the pub to watch Inter kick the livin shite out of man.ure, come on jose you cocky bastard!

Keith, a sure thing? If only mate, if only. (The wank as well as our chances of winning the title).

As for a climbing on the Mourinho bandwagon. I haven’t seen or heard of any bandwagon for Jose. I must be missing something.

Aitch, I’ve given up selecting important games to win coz they mean fuck all when we drop points against teams in the bottom 8. The truth is I aint confident no matter who we’re playing. It’s more fingers crossed when we go into a fixture (any league fixture) than confident expectation.

We could do the double over the mancs, Chelsea and Arse and still finish miles behind United. How crazy is that?

Crazy as fuck LB… but that’s the season we’re having. I’d have put money on us winning some of those draws (even with the personnel on the field) and on Scum dropping more points than they have, but there you go.

On the evidence of the last two or three weeks, I can’t see us going unbeatem, but its not beyond the realm of possibility that we play well tomorrow and use it as a springboard to go on a run.

Likely? I dunno. Possible. Of course.
“I guess it comes down to a simple question really… do you get busy livin’, or get busy dyin’?”

Is anyone watching the Scum/Inter game?
Ronaldo took a free kick, the keeper saved it low to his left and Ronaldo got pissed off that he saved it. Not frustrated mind you, but actually really pissed off that he had the audacity to do his job!
What a complete Cunt!

I couldn’t be bring my self to watch the United game. But I have been watching an Olympic Diving team training for 2012. Its seems to be on the same channel that the TV guide says should be football.

0-0 with the mancs and Inter at half time but on the evidence of the first half Inter really are a shite team. It’s hard to believe they are 9 points ahead in the Italian league, let’s hope they improve in the second half and take it to the manc bastards!

United have a 12 man on the pitch!

Fergusons only game plan in any game is to get the players to go down in or around the penalty area. World best team and manager?

At least Inter are giving them more of a game in the second half, let’s hope they can grab a goal or two.

scouse…how true. in big games in europe, utd just get near the box and go down. ironically, its what i remember of chelsea under mourinho.

Just caught last 10 mins of scum game i saw ,
1 handball in box (nothing given )
1 corner (nothing given )
1 throw in edge of box (nothing given )
1 Shrek on field (should be banned for stamping,previous round)
It seems Scums ” favours “are never ending

PS Digger Leonard had Haggler chasing him round the ring
If it wasn’t for the ropes Leonard would have been chased all the way home.

YNWA

So if I’m understanding things correctly. Scouse by Blood thought he was watching a watersport, but was in actual fact watching the same game we were?

And while London is apparently the place you want to be to get a handjob from the queen, Manchester would be the place to go if you want someone to go down on you cheaply?

Very educational this Kopblog place!

Aitch though your dreams be tossed and blown dont visit either.

YNWA

Too true Rome. What a great fighter Marvellous Marvin was and what a yellow bitch leonard was in that fight! Haglers my all time favourite fighter Rome. What a warrior.

KeithSA, well I’m glad someone agrees with me about Lucas. Thanks for taking the time to read. I was in the pub watching the Everton FA Cup game, and the groans around the place were unreal when he was on the ball. But he was one of very few who “showed up” in that game. Got stuck in, and what happened? He got sent off for getting stuck in. But in fairness, the first yellow was soft. He suffered a very bad challenge himself and (Lucas, if you’re reading this, I noticed) got no mention of his bravery. It just gets on my tits when people are glad to have opinions provided to them. Too afraid to challenge ‘conventional wisdom’, or wanting to sound clever in there critique.

I think it would be a mistake to lose him. I just think he’s following Rafa’s instruction to the letter, and that’s not HIS fault if it’s not his natural game. He’s a great header too. Did you see when he out jumped that afro-headed clown Falaini? Lucas just let him know he was there. And I applaud him for that. He is being criticized for too many sideways passes, but again, it’s not his fault if nobody is showing for the ball. No-one is making the run, so of course he’s going to pass sideways under pressure.

On the telly last in November or so, Ronnie Whelan was saying that he was booed himself too, in his early days by a certain section. He never found out why neither.

just heard a rumour . Mates mate out with Gerrards brother was told
Benitez is quitting after tomorrows game he’s told all the players,
and bookies stopped taking bets at 8.30 in Liverpool.
Maureen has been approached.

YNWA

Huh, WTF??????

Rafa out? Maureen in?????

I need panadol……..

We’re f*cked if its true.

If it is true, there are going to be riots on the streets. Lets hope its all rubbish. Rafa is the best thing that happened to LFC in a long long time. No disrespect to Evans and Houllier, but Rafa has improved the team so much more than those two combined. If not for the bullshit he has to deal with from tweedle dum and tweedle dee, and lets not forget coco the monkey, we would have improved so much more.

Regardless of the Rafa leaving aspect of that… and while I don’t think the man is infallible I think he’s the right lad for the gig….
How on earth do we continue to follow LFC with Maureen at the helm, after all has been said, and done, and chanted, during his time in charge at Chelsea????

That whole thing between him and Carra?
His fingers to the Kop touchline antics?
We’ll be the fuckin laughing stock of the Premier League.

Regardless of Moaning One’s antic, stupidity, lack of character and respect, why would he even entertain the idea of leaving a well paid position, with a progressive team that’s running well in his competition. It won’t happen, he is not the stupid.
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Also how the Fucking Hell can we afford him if we can’t fund Rafa’s contract.
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Rafa may walk if push comes to shove, but and expensive Manager will be the last thing this club can afford.
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In regard to the laughing stock comment, I sometime believe we are anyway, look at the ownership, board, haggling, player contract situations, biographies, players comments, etc.
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If it did happen would we be in the papers any less, don’t think so.

Lads other sites jumping on this rumour, apparently has something to do with a comment Lawro made on some Irish Radio Station, TodayFM or something similar. Any of you Irish fellows heard anything.
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Can’t forget Lawro got one recent rumour correct. Also rumour coming out of backyards ville, claiming Steve Mid Table McClaren is being sounded out. Fuck mention the word laughing stock once and then the English press double it.

aiyac,
sorry about the caps lock my friend. i had wrote half of it before i realised and was just too lazy too delete and start again ….

I htink its a big load of bollocks, but gaz, my comment wasn’t directed at the papers/media, but at competing fans… or for that matter ourselves.

Could you follow the reds in the same way and still look yourself in the mirror if JoMo took the helm?
I couldn’t. I disliked him as much as Whiskey Nose.

Aitch, you’ve got a point there. If Maureen were to takeover, i wonder how low he can take the club, in terms of class. But if push comes to shove, i would prefer Guss Hiddink, but he is more interested in managing national teams and i don’t think Roman will allow it….Safest bet, keep Rafa no matter what…Best man for the job, in my opinion….

I did not really think I needed to sit an examination or explain things down to such a degree Digger, but if you insist I will justify what I wrote instead of ignoring you so as not to perpetuate any misunderstanding. My comments about worst team in History was of the liberal kind and was meant as worst team since Shankly, sorry for the misunderstanding. It is very easy to twist facts in any argument, as you constantly do in having a pop at Rafa. Having only 3 people left of the original squad he inherited says it all. As for this great spine you speak about, Owen left the minute he arrived (easy to get small facts wrong) Sammie and Hamman were ageing so that leaves Carra and Gerrard. If you think that makes it a spine to beat all spines than there is not much to say with regards to your baize.

That he added, Alonso, Momo (replaced with Masch) Torres, Skertal, Agger and Pepe, that is the sole reason it is a world class spine. He had to do that by buying selling and upgrading slowly.

That we have Benny, Babbel, Lucas, Cavaleri Insua, Dossena, Agger, Sammie and Ngog on the bench is some how weaker than Biscan, Traore, Mellor, Salif, El Hadji etc is beyond comparison.

I love the everyone and his dog comment, how many Titles and cups have they won? They are somehow a better judge of form than Rafa, Sammie Lee and the rest of the staff? I am not saying they got it right, but there are no gaurentees they got it wrong. Somehow you pontificate that if Aurelleo was playing we would have won, forgetting the fact that we won in the dying minutes of injury time against a very week P’Smith and with the inclusion of Craig B, Shay G and De Jong, Man city are far from that. So what guarantees have you got, for some reason you think if Aurelleo was on the park we would have got the handball decision or Reira, Benny and Kuyt would have converted their chances?

As for the booing comment, it was on all the sites that within 5 minutes of the game the crowd where booing Lucas and I watched the game, enough said check your facts. As for the mid table team comment, being listed in the Papers at 7 in the financial spend stakes I would consider that as a mid table position. If you think that 7th is at the top then by all means carry on, I have higher expectation of Liverpool.

We have drawn 10 games, how many did Gerrard and/or Alosno start in? So call me a liar for 1, I was making a point about how we struggle with deep lying teams no matter who we play in the middle. As for the third of Games Gerrard missed, give or take. He was injured and played at half capacity in the beginning, had the op missed quite a few and is out injured again. The exact percentage I did not work out but we have been affected by the games both Gerrard and Torres have missed.

It is not a matter of unconditional support, I don’t have that. I think he makes plenty of mistakes perceived or otherwise. It is just not as easy as you make it out to be. He should have played so and so and we would have won. We should throw caution to the wind and go hell for leather Newcastle style and we would have won. Says who? Everyman and his dog? I just say hindsight is an exact science, but does not guarantee the results would be different if he had done with what you and every dog recommends. As much a you say I have blind faith (do not agree, but think he is the best option going forward) you have gone the opposite way and more in your condemnation of the man.

Sorry weak (did it again)

I am sure Yoda will forgive you Keith.

keith sa,
other than a quick question yesterday ( #31# ) i havent posted for quite some time. i felt myself getting a little negative towards rafa and so decided to step back and reserve my comment for say, a whole season as opposed to offering comment after every game.
i do however have a quick question or 2 for you if thats ok.
i dont buy into the “if this guy played we would have won argument” but do you not feel rafa is very negative in his approach ?
i do not believe anyone is talking about” righto boys never mind defending lets get forward” ala newcastle of old, rather i belive the point that is trying to be made is our whole approach is, if not negative at best, very cautious.
we appear to be talking as if there is no middle ground.
stevie g is an absolute powerhouse and runs and runs and runs, do you not feel we would be better served if when he arrived in the box or a forward area he made the 3rd person instead of the 2nd ?
mash, when on form is the absolute best at what he does, is he not sufficient cover to allow stevie to get forward ?
like i say im not talking about lets abandon our structure and go gun ho, but if your not prepared to wager anything how can you be surprised when you dont see any rewards ?

Actually since Jose(and I don’t like the man)left and went to Italy he has been very complimentary about LFC. What I do think was that he was prepared to fight for his team come what may. Liverpool are more respected in Europe than in England. I admired Rafa’s supposed rant against Fungus because it showed me he’s not scared of anyone and even though he’s a gentleman he’s a winner. I think we are close to the title and if and it’s a big if we get £30 million to spend we can afford to spend it on 1 or 2 class players.

I don’t think we play poor football but our conversion of chances is poor. benny/kuyt/riera/babel all guilty of some terrible misses. We make hatfuls of chances but we need to put them away.

Digger: Ref Rafa. I think Rafa will get us there but this season for me his masive mistake was the Robbie keane saga. i don’t know what happened or who is responsible but since the stoke game he made a few crazy selection like leaving all his attacking players on the bench. However you damn him for everything. I remember when Aurelio was selected in midfield (I thought the same) everyone was going ~Rafa’s finally lost it then after the game he’s a genius. Quite a few didn’t even think Aurelio should in the team at all now he should be playing central midfield. Some of us in here moan Rafa plays players out of position but then want Aurelio in central midfield. Make yer mind up people.

Reds I do not think Rafa is a defensive Manger in the Ged mould, yes he has a more conservative approach than say Fungus or Keegan, but it is the final 3rd of the game, that cost the most money to put right. Our record spend is Torres at 20 odd mill while the Mancs have 3 at 30 odd and then there is Wanker. If you look at how he sets up the side it is to dominate and retain possession. We create more chances than most team and as much as our nearest rivals. In reality we score as much as them in broad terms, but this year we have let in more than the Mancs, hence their 10 (1-0) wins as apposed to our 10 (1-1(4), 2-2(1) and yes 0-0(5) has to be taken into account) draws. We have scored 43 Prem goals to ManU 46, but more telling is the 18 goals conceded to ManU’s 11, that is why they are ahead. Take those four 1-1 draws (8 points) if we never conceded those goals we would be leading the table so you can argue we did not defend enough. We are not a million mile off the Mancs and they have been on an exceptional run where everything seems to go there way, while we have had a few dodgy decision go against us. The hysteria surrounding Rafa is uncalled for and unrealistic in terms of results and how much we have improved year on year under him. A lot of it is misinformed and very much knee-jerk unrealistic reactions. Yes we all want to win number 19 me as much as the rest of the guys and yes we had and still do have a shot this year, but under Rafa we are getting closer and closer every year. I would hate to see us throw it all away and start again. When things click we play really good free flowing attacking possession based football, as god as any I have seen. Yes at times it has not happened often enough. We have listed all the excuses of injuries etc we do not have the strength in depth we really need but hell we have put in a good run and are still not out of it by any stretch of the imagination. They could go on a bad run all it needs is for things to turn, off side goal, penalty given or not, sending off, keeper lapse, good goal given off sides, who knows. Keep the Faith

Why would Rafa quit 3 months before the end of the season? If he was quite ill I’d understand it but other than that it sounds like bull shit. The Mclaren rumour made me laugh. Another thing that makes me laugh is the way Jim Beglin was creaming his pants at the manc performance in the first half against Inter.

Aiyic, I don’t know how you can call Lucas a great header of the ball mate. The amount of sitters he’s missed with his head 3 yards from goal this season. The boy was one of the better players against Everton in the cup but by and large he’s been ordinary. It’s a big drop in class when Alonso or Gerrard aint in the middle. I’ll agree that the options available to Lucas is quite shite when he’s on the ball. Our movement is usually very static. Why it is I don’t know – you’d think they would be working on movement and finding space against tight defenses every day at Melwood.

What is confusing is this. When we’re losing we bomb forward and always manage to equalise. Why when its 0-0 or when we’re 1-0 up can’t we show the same intent? There must be a trophy for the team that gets the most draws that I don’t know about.

A word on the Aurellio in midfield issue. I must say I doubt it would have made any difference at all had he been in midfield against Man City. I thought he did alright against a poor Portsmouth side but the way some people are talking you’d think he was Gheorghe Hagi out there. One can’t argue too much with the starting XI against Citeh. It’s the lack of boldness in the substitutions that had me cursing at the TV.

LB: I agree Lucas isn’t good enough, whether he will be I don’t know. He would probably do very well in Spain where his 4 to 5 yard passes would be perfect with players moving and coming short. I agree it’s difficult to criticize the team against Man City, I thought we got out the traps very quickly what did us was a very sloppy start to the second half where we gave the ball away about 5 times in the first five minutes and they went and scored.

A point about Rafa and his subs. I wish he wouldn’t wait until 83 mins to put on an attacking player but and apparently stastitics prove(according to Paul Thomas, I know I know)that Rafa’s subs are the most effective out of all the Prem managers at changing a game including Jose the bold Mourinho.

Jason Scotland scored again last night.Rafa should sign him up now!.Important to play with Insua and Aurelio on the left and Babel on the right if SG doesn’t start.We need to play in their half and not sit back.The mancs created plenty of chances V Inter and that is the attitude we need 2 adopt.No Lucas or Riera hopefully.Away goal(s) is/are priceless.Has anybody got pictures of Kirsty Gallagher wearing the Liverpool kit?.Cheers.

Hey, about the Rafa leaving rumour. It apparently came from Lawro saying on-air on The Last Word last night, in a preview of last nights football. Saying he’d just received a txt, or call that Rafa has just resigned. Its about 10 min in.

w w w.radioirelan d.ie/lastword/2422009-18.wmv

Mark Lawro is a pratt. An ex red who is a disgrace to the team he graced now as a pundit he disgraces it. He tried to undermine us with his last rumour.

and now various websites reporting that betting Is suspended on Rafa leaving Liv – bullshit? :-/

The rumour i heard came from SG phoning is brother who was out in London
with is mates.
Hope it’s all b*llshit as i can’t vouch for the source.

YNWA

Twat or not, it would not be the first time that Lawro has spilt the beans i.e. Robbie Keane leaving in Jan

Whether he done it intentionally or not is another question.

Well I heard the comment on the radio and posted the link above (close the gaps). He’s says it’s probably just a rumour. But it could be a sly-dog way of getting it out. KD is 3/1.

I agree that Lawrenson is a total prat but in fairness I was listening to that show and he was just speaking in general about rumours. If I remember correctly he said, “Someone just rang me and asked if I had heard that Benitez had just walked out? Well I’ve not heard that so I think that’s just one of those rumours that gets put about by rumour-mongerers.”

There’s a thread on TIA forums called, “Betting Suspended on Rafa leaving”, and it’s just been locked. WTF??!!
I have on an ominous feeling about this.

If Rafa walks out before the end of the season I’ll eat my hat.

For the record, though rafa has refused to comment on the rumor in his press conference, Tony Barrett is reporting in the Echo that Rafa has catergorically denied it.

I don’t usuall post links, but in this case…

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/02/25/rafa-benitez-answers-liverpool-fc-quit-rumours-100252-23011784/

Well, we did the business tonight. It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough make the second leg far easier. Real Madrid were no great shakes, but that’s not our problem. Pity Torres went off at half time, he looked crocked after about 25 mins. It just goes to show the knife edge we walk with him being our only striker. We still give the ball away very cheaply though. It could have been a real nightmare for Madrid if we didn’t give away possession like we did. Too slow getting forward too, but that is our style.

I think Skrtel was an unsung hero for us. Raul was in his pocket all night. Aurelio had a great match too, with the way he kept Robben under his watchful eye, and gave good passes going forward, not to mention the assist for the goal. Now that is how you score from a set-piece. They were a diving shower of shites though. That really shits me off.

Well done boys, a good show against the record holders of CL.