S*it on a stick!

[einar]

great team would still have agger and riise over those two though

Just trying to make a point. We can put a few players in there.

[Rashid]

They are discussing it on the Guardian Blog

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/05/08/is_valdano_right_to_accuse_mou.html

Put yourself in the shoes of a non Liverpool fan, or for example if he was just talking about Chelsea - how we would laugh.

Valdano is right on the whole, incorrect about the Semi's of a CL final which is always intense but right about Rafa and Jose being suffocators of the beautiful game. Except Rafa, can show us otherwise when he spends some money.

[einar]

They are discussing it on the Guardian Blog

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/05/08/is_valdano_right_to_accuse_mou.html

Put yourself in the shoes of a non Liverpool fan, or for example if he was just talking about Chelsea - how we would laugh.

Valdano is right on the whole, incorrect about the Semi's of a CL final which is always intense but right about Rafa and Jose being suffocators of the beautiful game. Except Rafa, can show us otherwise when he spends some money.

With all due respect, it is very difficult to play the beautiful game without the beautiful players.

[Rashid]

With all due respect, it is very difficult to play the beautiful game without the beautiful players.

Then we should buy a few beautiful players, Wenger has proved you can buy cheap and get them playing beautiful football. Rafa has bought a lot of rugged type players e.g. Zenden, Kuyt, Crouch, Bellamy, Sissoko etc.

However he also got Garcia, Alonso, Mascherano - albeit the latter two are defensive players. I don't buy all this "Rafa has not had money" stuff but he has got us so much success he deserves our patience - the league form suggests otherwise though.

At Valencia Rafa inherited Aimar, Baraja, Vicente, - 3 world class attacking players - we don't have that at Liverpool except maybe for Gerrard. Time will tell this summer, although Rafa's attacking signings and there have been a few (Pennant, Kuyt, Morientes, Crouch, Bellamy - that's £40M right there) haven't set the world alight and nor do they play with flair.

[einar]

Then we should buy a few beautiful players, Wenger has proved you can buy cheap and get them playing beautiful football. Rafa has bought a lot of rugged type players e.g. Zenden, Kuyt, Crouch, Bellamy, Sissoko etc.

However he also got Garcia, Alonso, Mascherano - albeit the latter two are defensive players. I don't buy all this "Rafa has not had money" stuff but he has got us so much success he deserves our patience - the league form suggests otherwise though.

At Valencia Rafa inherited Aimar, Baraja, Vicente, - 3 world class attacking players - we don't have that at Liverpool except maybe for Gerrard. Time will tell this summer, although Rafa's attacking signings and there have been a few (Pennant, Kuyt, Morientes, Crouch, Bellamy - that's £40M right there) haven't set the world alight and nor do they play with flair.

If you dont buy the "Rafa has not had money" stuff you IMHO have to name players that Rafa could have gotten that would have done a better job then the ones we have.
I personally cant think of them. Because the thing is that the other top teams payed good money for these players, Arsenal included.

[Steve101]

Hmmm, interesting, but when you look back at Rafs Valencia teams most reds fans will remember them with some awe. Football is a team game, not a circus show, and a well organied quick team is ajoy to watch. its all about winning.

[einar]

Hmmm, interesting, but when you look back at Rafs Valencia teams most reds fans will remember them with some awe. Football is a team game, not a circus show, and a well organied quick team is ajoy to watch. its all about winning.

What is your point?

[Rashid]

Hmmm, interesting, but when you look back at Rafs Valencia teams most reds fans will remember them with some awe. Football is a team game, not a circus show, and a well organied quick team is ajoy to watch. its all about winning.

Rafa inherited the whole Valencia team and made them into winners, so maybe the problem lies in the inability if Rafa to buy top quality attacking players? The only one I think has been a real success is Garcia and maybe Crouch but neither are consistent. Rather than buy 2 top players Rafa prefers 6 average ones to fit into a squad system. Good for cup games as the players remain fresh but not the required quality to win league titles or inspire the purists.

Rafa is a brilliant coach but often too cautious away from home, at home e.g. against Barca we can be brilliant when we attack but those are few and far between.

[einar]

Rafa inherited the whole Valencia team and made them into winners, so maybe the problem lies in the inability if Rafa to buy top quality attacking players? The only one I think has been a real success is Garcia and maybe Crouch but neither are consistent. Rather than buy 2 top players Rafa prefers 6 average ones to fit into a squad system. Good for cup games as the players remain fresh but not the required quality to win league titles or inspire the purists.

Rafa is a brilliant coach but often too cautious away from home, at home e.g. against Barca we can be brilliant when we attack but those are few and far between.

Lets give the man a chance now that he has more money, and see who he goes for.

[lfcruleus]

I fully agree with that

Rafa is VERY like Paisley in tactics

Keep things tight, press the opposition, but dont give away anything

Patience was always the watch word at Anfield during the late 70's and early 80's. How often did we virtually bore teams to death before nicking a 1-0 win

The only thing I will say about Rafa is hes not adverse to doing anything to win. If it means punting long balls then he will do it

Spot on that, I remember a game at Anfield under Fagan actually against West Ham, they murdered us all over the pitch we defended superbly and we beat them 6-0 it was bizarre. Every time we went near thier goal we scored.