S*it on a stick!

[dww]

NB: If managers who weren't good players do this then how does that explain Wenger and Ferguson?

That bit of logic was just a cheap shot and best ignored.

[bazza76]

Can't really disagree with any of the article

We would call **** hanging from a stick art?

[Rashid]

I think success is important and Real Madrid have had none of itrecently, however, it ****ing grates being classed as a bunch of long ball merchants. This is not the Liverpool Way at all is it? Often we can't even string two passes together, and Riise and Carragher love to hoof it to Crouch.

Not only do we need to look at the players we buy but also our style, who is actually happy with our style? And why do people keep mentioning Valencia? They were a good team but also a defensive one, and in Spain that is quite rare.

Finally for every Liverpool and Chelsea (Success winning ugly) there is a Barcelona and Manchester United. I guess you can win both ways.

[Shaggy]

I think success is important and Real Madrid have had none of it, however, it ****ing grates being classed as a bunch of long ball merchants. This is not the Liverpool Way at all is it? Often we can't even string two passes together, and Riise and Carragher love to hoof it to Crouch.

Not only do we need to look at the players we buy but also our style, who is actually happy with our style? And why do people keep mentioning Valencia? They were a good team but also a defensive one, and in Spain that is quite rare.

Valencia were not a defensive team. Being strong in defence doesn't necessarily mean you are a defensive outfit.

In one of their title campaigns under Benitez they scored 71 goals - only 4th placed Real Madrid scored more (72 goals - just one more).

Hardly defensive.

[mishal]

will be interesting to see how benitez responds to this statement ... any guesses??

[bazza76]

I think success is important and Real Madrid have had none of itrecently, however, it ****ing grates being classed as a bunch of long ball merchants. This is not the Liverpool Way at all is it? Often we can't even string two passes together, and Riise and Carragher love to hoof it to Crouch.

Not only do we need to look at the players we buy but also our style, who is actually happy with our style? And why do people keep mentioning Valencia? They were a good team but also a defensive one, and in Spain that is quite rare.

Finally for every Liverpool and Chelsea (Success winning ugly) there is a Barcelona and Manchester United. I guess you can win both ways.

Sorry Rashid, as much as I loved the pass and move game from our teams of old, we are not under any obligation to play in the same manner.
If Rafa was told that when he came here, that he had to play pass and move, he wouldn't have came here. We have to give Rafa total control over team affairs and not put any unnecessary pressure on him, otherwise we would be making his job harder.
We have moved on, and for now, the Liverpool way is not to give anything away and in attack to vary our play, be it long passing, short passing, wing play, long range shooting etc. its what makes us so difficult to beat, and if you asked me under the current situation would we have had the same success since Rafa arrived if we had played pass and move, I would so no.
the Liverpool way has changed, and to be honest, I love the intensity we are now playing with, I am sure we will improve attacking wise in the summer with more money to spend on our number one targets.

[Guest]

Valencia were not a defensive team. Being strong in defence doesn't necessarily mean you are a defensive outfit.

In one of their title campaigns under Benitez they scored 71 goals - only 4th placed Real Madrid scored more (72 goals - just one more).

Hardly defensive.

That was Houllier's point also, when we scored 100 or so goals during the treble season. But the truth was that we played counter attacking football, and our tactics was based on a solid defense, with Henchoz and Hyppia as lynchpins.

[dww]

That was Houllier's point also, when we scored 100 or so goals during the treble season. But the truth was that we played counter attacking football, and our tactics was based on a solid defense, with Henchoz and Hyppia as lynchpins.

Arsenal play counter attacking football. It is not of itself an insult.

[Rashid]

Sorry Rashid, as much as I loved the pass and move game from our teams of old, we are not under any obligation to play in the same manner.
If Rafa was told that when he came here, that he had to play pass and move, he wouldn't have came here. We have to give Rafa total control over team affairs and not put any unnecessary pressure on him, otherwise we would be making his job harder.
We have moved on, and for now, the Liverpool way is not to give anything away and in attack to vary our play, be it long passing, short passing, wing play, long range shooting etc. its what makes us so difficult to beat, and if you asked me under the current situation would we have had the same success since Rafa arrived if we had played pass and move, I would so no.
the Liverpool way has changed, and to be honest, I love the intensity we are now playing with, I am sure we will improve attacking wise in the summer with more money to spend on our number one targets.

Managers are given the same remit at Barcelona that they must play good football - managers are also not allowed to interfere with the youth teams. As much as we love him he won't be here forever, we gave Houllier too much say in everything and now we want Rafa to 'control' everything. I disagree with that, I think a team should be build on the history and foundations of the club not on any one manager and his own philosophies.

Rafa should be allowed to play whatever style he wants, but it doesn't mean the youth teams should to and as a club we should expect a reasonable brand of football.

[desertscouser]

Funny how Real Madrid wanted both Rafa and Mourinho to take over from Capello.

[Rashid]

Arsenal play counter attacking football. It is not of itself an insult.

Nothing wrong with counter attacking football, it's the hoofing it, scrapping like mad for it, and playing for draws etc that grates people.

[AFII]

That was Houllier's point also, when we scored 100 or so goals during the treble season. But the truth was that we played counter attacking football, and our tactics was based on a solid defense, with Henchoz and Hyppia as lynchpins.

and the best counter attacking player in the World, Owen. Houllier built his system around him and if you want to use an excellent counter attacking player in the best possible way then you must play defensive football so the striker will get a lot of space to work with.

Lyon plays is in a totally different way than we did when GH was our manager.

Rafa had Aimar as his offensive engine, he didn't build his team around him but he was the key to Valencias attacking play.

[Rashid]

and the best counter attacking player in the World, Owen. Houllier built his system around him and if you want to use an excellent counter attacking player in the best possible way then you must play defensive football so the striker will get a lot of space to work with.

Lyon plays is in a totally different way than we did when GH was our manager.

Rafa had Aimar as his offensive engine, he didn't build his team around him but he was the key to Valencias attacking play.

Owen was brilliant at Madrid - a none counter attacking side. He can play in any side it doesn't have to be counter attacking or hoofball.

As for Aimar - Rafa has admitted his whole team focussed on him.

[bazza76]

Managers are given the same remit at Barcelona that they must play good football - managers are also not allowed to interfere with the youth teams. As much as we love him he won't be here forever, we gave Houllier too much say in everything and now we want Rafa to 'control' everything. I disagree with that, I think a team should be build on the history and foundations of the club not on any one manager and his own philosophies.

Rafa should be allowed to play whatever style he wants, but it doesn't mean the youth teams should to and as a club we should expect a reasonable brand of football.

Well when it comes to talking about developing youth players, I think Rafa has a good idea what he is talking about, him being a player that never really made it, is testament to that, while being so heavily involved with Real Madrid's youth set up. He is right about them needing more experience than they are currently getting playing wise. I guess only time will tell if his methods are right within the youth set up.
As for Barcelona managers being given the instructions to play attractive football. I think it is easier to accomplish this playing in that league, much easier infact, that is if you like a game at that pace. More time on the ball means more time to bring the ball under control and try a more elaborate approach to the game.
Personally, I see Rafa not only as a manager, but as a director of football. i'd much rather Rafa have control over everything got to do with football at LFC than someone who knows less about the game than he does. Which is clearly the case.

[Rashid]

Well when it comes to talking about developing youth players, I think Rafa has a good idea what he is talking about, him being a player that never really made it, is testament to that, while being so heavily involved with Real Madrid's youth set up. He is right about them needing more experience than they are currently getting playing wise. I guess only time will tell if his methods are right within the youth set up.
As for Barcelona managers being given the instructions to play attractive football. I think it is easier to accomplish this playing in that league, much easier infact, that is if you like a game at that pace. More time on the ball means more time to bring the ball under control and try a more elaborate approach to the game.
Personally, I see Rafa not only as a manager, but as a director of football. i'd much rather Rafa have control over everything got to do with football at LFC than someone who knows less about the game than he does. Which is clearly the case.

Do you think Man United and Arsenal find it difficult playing good football in this country? Hasn't the team playing the best football just won our league?