Considered thoghts on last night.

[Speedy]

I've had time to calm down and can now post more objectively.

Dudek has had his time. On the whole he has been farcical for us and not good enough. He has played some good games, dont get me wrong, but he was really never good enough. However, we should never forget what he did for us that night in Istanbul.

Our defence. Hmmmm. The future doesn't look bright does it? I hope Agger turns out to be one of the best in the world, otherwise we're going to have to invest massively in the next few years (We probably will regardless).

Our strikers aren't good enough. I'd get rid of 2 of them (I'm not sure which 2, certainly not Kuyt though) and Bring in D.Bent and A N other ASAP.

2 injuries

Our youth players in midfield and defence aren't going to make it (an exception might prove me wrong, but they were outclassed last night).

The gaffer. I hate, repeat, HATE it when the camera pans to him on the bench. He looks like he's been hard done by all the time and he hasn't got a clue what to do when we go behind.

Positives - Few and far between as they have been for much of this season. However, after it went to 5-2. We looked pretty decent when attacking and i liked our urgency a lot in the last 20 minutes. Stevie's goal was absolutely sublime and he in particular looked gutted when we went out.

All in all i think it showed that in the medium-long term we are going to have to invest. I reckon we have a core of players (much like the mancs) who are very very good and if we can keep them all fit then and add in the summer we'll have a decent shot next year.

[friedk]

what happened to Speedy

[Speedy]

what happened to Speedy

You don't approve?

Which bit do you disagree with, i'll shoot you down on it!

[The_weatherman]

I've had time to calm down and can now post more objectively.

Dudek has had his time. On the whole he has been farcical for us and not good enough. He has played some good games, dont get me wrong, but he was really never good enough. However, we should never forget what he did for us that night in Istanbul.

Our defence. Hmmmm. The future doesn't look bright does it? I hope Agger turns out to be one of the best in the world, otherwise we're going to have to invest massively in the next few years (We probably will regardless).

Our strikers aren't good enough. I'd get rid of 2 of them (I'm not sure which 2, certainly not Kuyt though) and Bring in D.Bent and A N other ASAP.

2 injuries

Our youth players in midfield and defence aren't going to make it (an exception might prove me wrong, but they were outclassed last night).

The gaffer. I hate, repeat, HATE it when the camera pans to him on the bench. He looks like he's been hard done by all the time and he hasn't got a clue what to do when we go behind.

Positives - Few and far between as they have been for much of this season. However, after it went to 5-2. We looked pretty decent when attacking and i liked our urgency a lot in the last 20 minutes. Stevie's goal was absolutely sublime and he in particular looked gutted when we went out.

All in all i think it showed that in the medium-long term we are going to have to invest. I reckon we have a core of players (much like the mancs) who are very very good and if we can keep them all fit then and add in the summer we'll have a decent shot next year.

Imagine playing in a backline you have never played in before in competitive matches and you have Dudek to clear after you - wouldn´t fill you with confidence would it? I´m not worried about these two matches at all - I´m annoyed after going out in the FA and would have preferred to win the Carling Cup but who says we would have anyway.

The thing that bothers me the most is losing Garcia and Gonzo. We have a good team and a good squad regardless of this outcome. Now we have Kewell, Garcia, Gonzo, Zenden and Momo out but we can still play Xabi, Gerrard, Pennant and Aurelio/Riise which says alot about our depth IMO.

Our striker problem will most likely be looked at in the summer, IF Rafa replaces Fowler with a top notch striker and gets Neill in cheap and Mascherano on loan for 18 months like it said somewhere, I´d say we will be fine.

Carson will be a good understudy to Reina at least and Aurelio is showing signs of adapting (he is not worse than Riise at LB right now). Now we have fewer matches and no more fixture congestion so this might work out alright (not great) in the end.

[Shaggy]

The gaffer. I hate, repeat, HATE it when the camera pans to him on the bench. He looks like he's been hard done by all the time and he hasn't got a clue what to do when we go behind.

On the contrary, I like what I see. Well I don’t, but you know what I mean.

He looks deeply hurt and fuming. Last night he looked APOPLECTIC with rage. He takes it very, very personally. How anyone can say he “doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing” is beyond me, because as we all know he spends the entire game coaching and cajoling. Benitez has a very, very clear idea of what he wants the team to be doing, so you can’t come that rubbish about Rafa.

[friedk]

You don't approve?

Which bit do you disagree with, i'll shoot you down on it!

the shock is that I do agree with most of your points

[animal magic]

Rafa Benitez has reacted to his side's Carling Cup exit to Arsenal by demanding more money to spend on young players.

The Liverpool boss refuses to admit that his team selection was at fault for his side's 6-3 humiliation, pointing out that the Gunners had spent millions on their so-called reserve side.

Benitez says the club must concentrate on strengthening their squad with youth, and will start by signing Sampdoria goalkeeper Daniele Padelli on a six-month loan deal.
"There is a lesson in this for the whole of our club," Benitez told the Liverpool Echo. "If you want to compete at the top level, you must be able to spend a lot of money not only on your first team, but on the young players and reserves.
"Arsenal spent £4m on Diaby, £4m on Denilson, £8m on Walcott and Baptista is a £22m player.

"They have been working for ten years to build a strong squad, and we have been working for two years. My scout department has done an excellent job, but sometimes we go too slow as a club to make signings we need, and when we do there is not a lot of money.

"Today, for example, we are signing a young Italian keeper on loan with an option for later. We've also been working for many weeks to sign the young Scottish player James McCarthy.
"These are the deals we are doing because we want to build a squad of similar quality in the future, but without spending big money it's difficult."

Benitez once again defended his team selection, saying: "Last night we believe we've lost Luis for the rest of the season and Gonzalez and Warnock were injured. Steven Gerrard has a dead leg and Xabi Alonso a tight hamstring.

"What is more important? The Premiership, the Champions League or the Carling Cup?"

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Agree with all of what you said, Speedy, except for the part about Darren Bent because i havent seen anything exciting about him so far.
We seriously need some pace in defence, ours are not quick enough to handle speedy attackers.
If we have spare money, we should invest in another goalkeeper, possibly someone with a big physical presence.
We should also get a goal poacher since Rafa is reluctant to play Fowler more regularly, if we get Dubai money, then go for Adriano, he is perfect for EPL, size, speedy, strength and finishing.

[The_weatherman]

Rafa Benitez has reacted to his side's Carling Cup exit to Arsenal by demanding more money to spend on young players.

The Liverpool boss refuses to admit that his team selection was at fault for his side's 6-3 humiliation, pointing out that the Gunners had spent millions on their so-called reserve side.

Benitez says the club must concentrate on strengthening their squad with youth, and will start by signing Sampdoria goalkeeper Daniele Padelli on a six-month loan deal.
"There is a lesson in this for the whole of our club," Benitez told the Liverpool Echo. "If you want to compete at the top level, you must be able to spend a lot of money not only on your first team, but on the young players and reserves.
"Arsenal spent £4m on Diaby, £4m on Denilson, £8m on Walcott and Baptista is a £22m player.

"They have been working for ten years to build a strong squad, and we have been working for two years. My scout department has done an excellent job, but sometimes we go too slow as a club to make signings we need, and when we do there is not a lot of money.

"Today, for example, we are signing a young Italian keeper on loan with an option for later. We've also been working for many weeks to sign the young Scottish player James McCarthy.
"These are the deals we are doing because we want to build a squad of similar quality in the future, but without spending big money it's difficult."

Benitez once again defended his team selection, saying: "Last night we believe we've lost Luis for the rest of the season and Gonzalez and Warnock were injured. Steven Gerrard has a dead leg and Xabi Alonso a tight hamstring.

"What is more important? The Premiership, the Champions League or the Carling Cup?"

Hard to argue with this IMO.

[Shaggy]

Hard to argue with this IMO.

It’s IMPOSSIBLE to argue with. It should shut up everybody who thinks we should’ve played our strongest side last and it should also shut those CLOWNS up who think Rafa should go. ****wits.

[Speedy]

On the contrary, I like what I see. Well I don’t, but you know what I mean.

He looks deeply hurt and fuming. Last night he looked APOPLECTIC with rage. He takes it very, very personally. How anyone can say he “doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing” is beyond me, because as we all know he spends the entire game coaching and cajoling. Benitez has a very, very clear idea of what he wants the team to be doing, so you can’t come that rubbish about Rafa.

But he doesn't know what to do when we go behind, yes?

I like him as a man and i think he has a lot to offer, however, i do think he is very naive at times when it comes to the English game.

[Shaggy]

But he doesn't know what to do when we go behind, yes?

I like him as a man and i think he has a lot to offer, however, i do think he is very naive at times when it comes to the English game.

I’m sure he knows what to do, but yes, our team struggle when we go behind. We’re not the only ones though, it’s an increasingly frequent pattern in the modern game.

[Yozza]

But he doesn't know what to do when we go behind, yes?.

Doesn't know what to do when we go behind?

We were 3-0 down to AC Milan & nope he had no fu**ing idea then did he?

[Shaggy]

Doesn't know what to do when we go behind?

We were 3-0 down to AC Milan & nope he had no fu**ing idea then did he?

2-0 down in the FA Cup final too.

No idea!

[Yozza]