Post-Match Wash Up - Arsenal

[desertscouser]

3 goals we lost by...im sure ive seen us lose by 3 goals in the houllier era, and im certain Uncle Roys boys would of lost a couple of games by 3 goals at least.

Well Rafa's managed to lose by 3 goals three times this season and we're only in January. I can't remember that happening before.

Whatever way anyone dresses it, last night was humiliating and **** like that does not / should not happen to LFC.

[RedJedi]

I know we're not meant to rant and rave and we're meant to believe the League Cup doesn't matter (although to me that belittles all the times we've actually won it) but tonight was unacceptable.

It was a humiliation.

It strikes me that no matter how embarrassing we are there's always someone who will defend it.

It doesn't have to be an overreaction to take a pop at that tonight. It was after all the only domestic competition we were in. And now we're not.

The league was dead and buried by November (and I'm being kind by saying November). The FA Cup was over the moment we entered it. The League Cup has now ended with the footballing equivalent of a cat's nose being rubbed in its own ****.

Its now Champions League or bust and its only just January.

Why not put out a team to give the domestic season a bit of life still.

I really think it's about time people stopped defending everything as some sort of genius backfired. Sure there's knee jerkers around who need to get a grip too. But to be humiliated twice in a few days, both times at Anfield, is not on.

Especially when we've been well and truly thrashed numerous times this season already.

The League Cup is only a **** meaningless cup when you have something else more important to aim at. Domestically, we didn't. This was it. So let's drop the arrogance about it being only the League Cup.

David Moores says that Liverpool FC's reason for being is to collect silverware. If so, why not go and try to win the only domestic silverware we are still in the running for? I really don't understand it.

And it annoys me to see Arsenal reserves play the game properly like our first team still haven't managed to do.

Well said mate

[RedJedi]

How can you say this was down to Rafa is beyond me.
Dudek is an experienced international, he should be able to play better but he let Rafa and the team down.

Defence? Maybe because the others were tired or needed a rest, or maybe some of the squad players should get a look in sometimes?

Nevertheless, on paper the team should be good enough to match the reserve Arsenal. Blame rests with the players and their errors.

He had a **** game on Saturday and Rafa still picked him. He should have been dropped.

We should have put a full streght team out, end of.

It might be a ****ty cup but its a ****ty cup that we have won loads of times and ive enjoyed everyone.

Im still ****in fuming

[tomasjj]

He had a **** game on Saturday and Rafa still picked him. He should have been dropped.

We should have put a full streght team out, end of.

Ok, Dudek should have been dropped, but he still should be able to perform better than he did.

Full strenght? No way. We need to rest players.
The league and the CL are pri 1 and 2.

If he hadnt given squadies and youngsters a chance people would have been banging on about that as well and slating Rafa.

We have been down this road many times before when we have been knocked out of the cups, and the same hindsight stuff about fielding strongest possible team vs. youngsters pop up after the games every time.

[desertscouser]

He had a **** game on Saturday and Rafa still picked him. He should have been dropped.

We should have put a full streght team out, end of.

It might be a ****ty cup but its a ****ty cup that we have won loads of times and ive enjoyed everyone.

Im still ****in fuming

Agreed.

The thing is we can't afford to be picky about what trophy we want to win this season. I still can't believe Rafa's team selection.

[tomasjj]

There are some tough weeks ahead, 2 games a week, and a double header against Barca. We need to be fresh.
If you had to choose, woudl you rather have the frist 11 out in our league games and against Barca or against a weak arse team at home in the CC?

[vonk]

our back 5 were : dudek, peltier, palleta, hyppia, warnock
theres were: almunia, hoyte, toure, djourou, traore

I've seen them play 4 of that five in league and champs league games. given dudeks form it wasnt that surprising. Rafa should have gambled alright but not on 5 defenders. Maybe change one and gamble upfield but this was not smart. I think they were more fluid but a bit lucky. Most of their goals came from defensive errors.
1, Long ball
2, Great free kick but keeper doesnt dive?
3, all dudek and sami
4, stone wall offside
5, palletta and a decent strike
6, cant remember

[RedJedi]

Ok, Dudek should have been dropped, but he still should be able to perform better than he did.

Full strenght? No way. We need to rest players.
The league and the CL are pri 1 and 2.

If he hadnt given squadies and youngsters a chance people would have been banging on about that as well and slating Rafa.

We have been down this road many times before when we have been knocked out of the cups, and the same hindsight stuff about fielding strongest possible team vs. youngsters pop up after the games every time.

Rest players !!!!

Since we got knocked out the FA cup i think we will have a couple of weekends off. Surley they can rest then.

Barca is feckin 6 weeks away, anything can happen to players between now and then. We might as well not play them in case they get injured if we are think about the CL games this feckin early.

Ahh well ive gota go and work in Manchester now, this should be fun.

[AFII]

It's more easy to get injured if you are tired and some of the players needed a rest now and not in two or three weeks.

[RedJedi]

It's more easy to get injured if you are tired and some of the players needed a rest now and not in two or three weeks.

Agreed....Some

Not most

[Mightycheese]

Nice quote from Rafa:
""The problem was conceding four goals in the first half. "

Yup, that'll do it.

[captain-caveman]

I'm praying its all appart of Rafa's plan. Like the Drunken Master.

He's making other teams think their better than us, then we'll come back stronger and win the CL and take second place in league.

oh lord let this be true!!!!

[alunevans]

Nice quote from Rafa:
""The problem was conceding four goals in the first half. "

Yup, that'll do it.

Reminds me of Kinnock on the Clive Anderson show after he lost the election

CA: So Neil, why do you think you lost the election

NK: Didn't get enough votes.

[REDSCOUSER]

3 goals we lost by...im sure ive seen us lose by 3 goals in the houllier era, and im certain Uncle Roys boys would of lost a couple of games by 3 goals at least.

yes but did not give up SIX bleedin' goals

[REDSCOUSER]

How can you say this was down to Rafa is beyond me.
Dudek is an experienced international, he should be able to play better but he let Rafa and the team down.

Defence? Maybe because the others were tired or needed a rest, or maybe some of the squad players should get a look in sometimes?

Nevertheless, on paper the team should be good enough to match the reserve Arsenal. Blame rests with the players and their errors.

Rafa picks the team, does he not ?
He prepares the team, does he not ?
He should take most of the blame for the shambles of both arsenal games.
Everybody knows he ****ed it up, it's ok as long as he learns from it next time.