Rafa's best/worst signings so far

[ronan]

Best: Alonso

Worst: Pellegrino

spot on

[red g]

Best : Xabi
Worst: Josemi

Infallible: Rafa

A major factor in our progress: Peter Crouch

Zonal marking trouble shooter: Pellegrino.

Is that enough for you Ryan?

You missed :

Player most likely to prove Ryan wrong : Mark Gonzales

[Iceman]

Pellegrino was very influential in teaching the defence zonal marking and was even offered a coaching job with us recently..............As a player however I have seen a tanker on the mersey turn quicker!

best signing: alonso/sissoko at the moment but history may dictate that it could be gonzales/pennant/bellamy or someone not yet signed

[MrMichael]

Best: Fowler was a masterstroke, Reina, Momo and Alonso are all quality players

Worst: I think its fascinating that out of all Rafa's worst buys, none of them are stil at the club. Nunez, Josemi, Pellegrino and Morientes were all a bit pants on the pitch... and they're all gone. We still had 2 of our previous manager's worst buys at the club at the end of last season

[Rosco]

I'd be interested if all those who slag off Crouch could explain to me how he had nothing to do with our much improved League form last season.

Nobody said he had NOTHING to do with our improvement, just that he had nowhere near the impact that some claim. If I wanted to be facetious I could argue that Crouch scored less , missed more chances and gave the ball away more than the striker he replaced (ALL FACTS). But I won't . There were a lot more pressing reasons as to why we improved.

Firstly we had an injury plagued 04/05, so we weren't quite as bad as it looks. It's also worth remembering that Rafa practically gave up on fourth spot by resting his players for CL matches.

Reasons why we improved between 04/05 and 05/06

1. The best defensive season we've had in 19 years. We conceded roughly 40% less goals than we did in the league in 04/05.

2. A new Golden Gloves winning goalkeeper in Pepe Reina.

3. A stronger all round squad. At times in 04/05 we started with Potter , Welsh , Pellegrino , Josemi etc.

4. Gerrard and Alonso we're fit all season long. In 04/05 they both missed three months plus.

5. Benitez's change of tactics, the main difference being he played two up front in 05/06.

6. Momo Sissoko, beat Arsenal on his own at Anfield ( a small bit of help from Luis) and put in a lot of impressive performances in his Premiership season. It's no coincidence that our dip in form coincided with his eye injury.

7. Harry Kewell also had a bit of an effect too, we finally had some balance in the midfield with him hugging the left touchline and we were a better team for it. He was the only thing we had resembling a winger in 05/06.


It annoys me when I see people claim Crouch is the main reason we improved because it's a huge direspect to a fantastic midfield and the best defence we've had for 19 years.

[Rosco]

As for the thread

Best : I can't choose between Alonso / Sissoko / Garcia

Worst : Morientes.

[Neil Young]

Nobody said he had NOTHING to do with our improvement, just that he had nowhere near the impact that some claim. If I wanted to be facetious I could argue that Crouch scored less , missed more chances and gave the ball away more than the striker he replaced (ALL FACTS). But I won't . There were a lot more pressing reasons as to why we improved.

Firstly we had an injury plagued 04/05, so we weren't quite as bad as it looks. It's also worth remembering that Rafa practically gave up on fourth spot by resting his players for CL matches.

Reasons why we improved between 04/05 and 05/06

1. The best defensive season we've had in 19 years. We conceded roughly 40% less goals than we did in the league in 04/05.

2. A new Golden Gloves winning goalkeeper in Pepe Reina.

3. A stronger all round squad. At times in 04/05 we started with Potter , Welsh , Pellegrino , Josemi etc.

4. Gerrard and Alonso we're fit all season long. In 04/05 they both missed three months plus.

5. Benitez's change of tactics, the main difference being he played two up front in 05/06.

6. Momo Sissoko, beat Arsenal on his own at Anfield ( a small bit of help from Luis) and put in a lot of impressive performances in his Premiership season. It's no coincidence that our dip in form coincided with his eye injury.

7. Harry Kewell also had a bit of an effect too, we finally had some balance in the midfield with him hugging the left touchline and we were a better team for it. He was the only thing we had resembling a winger in 05/06.


It annoys me when I see people claim Crouch is the main reason we improved because it's a huge direspect to a fantastic midfield and the best defence we've had for 19 years.

To paraphrase you: nobody (or at least I never) said he was the main reason for our improvement. The main reason is Rafael Benitez. I'd agree with you about all the factors you mention.

However, while no-one actually "said he had mothing to do with our improvement last season", two people (Icon and Ryan) claimed he was Benitez's worst signing. Given the competition, I'd say that's just plain wrong and he undoubtedly played a bigger part in the team's overall performance last season than Nunez did in 04/05 and Morientes last year. Taking transfer fees into account, Morientes was clearly worse value for money.

My point was that he was a factor and he did a good (not brilliant) job last season. Just because I was supporting Crouch doesn't mean that I'm guilty of the black-and-white judgments favoured by some who are against him.

[Cleo]

What is the difference in the quality of argument between:

""

and

"If you dressed him up any more, you'd be putting lipstick on and fcukin him."

For what it's worth I just wanna let you know that I totally agree with you on Crouch.

[Scot Jamo]

ANYONE could have done the same.

Really, like who? Alonso?

I'm sure you moaners would have loved to have seen Traore at centre back.

[Rosco]

Really, like who? Alonso?

I'm sure you moaners would have loved to have seen Traore at centre back.

Are you defending Pellegrino's efforts on the pitch ?

Can you honestly tell me he wasn't awful ?

[Scot Jamo]

He wasn't great by any means, but I saw him have a few really good games, including the derby at home.

Anyway, I don't really see why you're so hung up about it. This over analysing of the managers sucesses and failures in the transfer market is tedious in the extreme.

We didn't have much money, he was free, Rafa knew him, we needed a bit of cover for Sami, it didn't work, he was shipped out, end of story. That's football.

[El Jefecito]

Nobody said he had NOTHING to do with our improvement, just that he had nowhere near the impact that some claim. If I wanted to be facetious I could argue that Crouch scored less , missed more chances and gave the ball away more than the striker he replaced (ALL FACTS). But I won't . There were a lot more pressing reasons as to why we improved.

Firstly we had an injury plagued 04/05, so we weren't quite as bad as it looks. It's also worth remembering that Rafa practically gave up on fourth spot by resting his players for CL matches.

Reasons why we improved between 04/05 and 05/06

1. The best defensive season we've had in 19 years. We conceded roughly 40% less goals than we did in the league in 04/05.

2. A new Golden Gloves winning goalkeeper in Pepe Reina.

3. A stronger all round squad. At times in 04/05 we started with Potter , Welsh , Pellegrino , Josemi etc.

4. Gerrard and Alonso we're fit all season long. In 04/05 they both missed three months plus.

5. Benitez's change of tactics, the main difference being he played two up front in 05/06.

6. Momo Sissoko, beat Arsenal on his own at Anfield ( a small bit of help from Luis) and put in a lot of impressive performances in his Premiership season. It's no coincidence that our dip in form coincided with his eye injury.

7. Harry Kewell also had a bit of an effect too, we finally had some balance in the midfield with him hugging the left touchline and we were a better team for it. He was the only thing we had resembling a winger in 05/06.


It annoys me when I see people claim Crouch is the main reason we improved because it's a huge direspect to a fantastic midfield and the best defence we've had for 19 years.

Rafa disagrees with you. He said the improvement in our away record was due to Crouch.

Rafa, Rosco?

[Rosco]

Ok then .... let's ignore all the facts and just take one Rafa soundbite as gospel.

[G_Man]

Opinion is NOT the same as fact

[Rosco]

Opinion is NOT the same as fact

Right so Gerrard , Alonso and Kewell were only injured in my opinion ?

Sissoko was only signed in my opinion ?

We conceded less goals in my opinion ?

Should I go on ?