Rafa has to hold his hand up...

[bigfooty]

Maybe, but Rafa's team selection was a clear statement that we came here to primarily stop Milan playing then maybe win it ourselves - late on perhaps. Admittedly this was working very well for 44 minutes, but a slightly flukey goal changed the nature of the game and we were once more far too slow to adjust to this. It's been a similar story all season long in the league, 3 goals from subs in 38 games.

[bacon]

Rafa got it right. It was a lack of overall quality that cost us. With better players, who'll come in the summer, the game would have been over by half-time; we there that much on top.


Rafa's tactics were spot on - as per in Europe.

Agreed. Tactics were right ... but we are lacking in the right quality personnel to execute them. Opportunity wasted IMHO as we played well ... outplayed Milan in every area except the dratted final 3rd !

Never mind ... bring on next season!

[redpablo]

Rafa was dead on tonight. we were unlucky as were lucky last time. no shame tonight, hold the heads up high. we are liverpool!!!! what would chavs or mance have given to be there tonight. we shouls much better than the mancs last time.

we areliverpool. our european glory is just beginning. come on!!

[thesilverfoxlfc]

I think Rafa may have got it wrong tonight,
Crouch came on too late.
Not enough attack.

Thats fair enough, but we werent outplayed which is the main thing. But i feel strongly that Crouch should of come on and Belamy, i was gutted for him not to play and the way he was speaking in the news conference in the build up to the final he knows his on his way, which is a shame as he's a good player with pace that would of gotten the Milan defenders tired.....they had a relaxing night at the back

[Shanks]

The fact that Bellamy never got a look in tonight
against an ageing defence proves he is on his way in the summer.

[Red Chilli]

I think Rafa may have got it wrong tonight,

I disagree, the team bossed the game and we're basically highjacked by Milan. Let's not forget this is the premier club competition in the world and we bossed the final.

Crouch came on too late.
Not enough attack.

Maybe Rafa could have changed it earlier but we were the most dangerous team throughout IMO.

What needs to change for next season

For Me.

Bellamy, Pennant, Zenden, Gonzales, Fowler, Kewell, Sammi, Arbeloa (to go on loan) will all have left the club in some way next season for the reason they are not good enough for were we need to go.

Right Wing! Left Wing! (There for the taking) Strikers! (Eto'o,Tevez)

Decide were Stevie plays,
and I they may be the key decisions for Rafa to think about next season.

Harsh on Pennant, he may not be the most popular player we have for various reasons but I think in the last few months he's put some real performances in for us. He should only be sold if we bring a real world beater in.
Bolo has invaluable experience and versatility. He's not my favourite player but he has a place in the squad for me.
Gonzo should go on loan, he needs a confidence boost.
Fowler-out of contract, leaves a hero
Kewell-if a buyer can be found it may be time to cash in.
Sami-deserves to be helped to find a good club.
Arbeloa- bit earlier to bin him.

I agree we need a left winger, we've needed one since Barnes stopped playing there
Striker is a key position-Rafa must do everything he can to try and get Eto'o.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

what would chavs or mance have given to be there tonight. we shouls much better than the mancs last time.

What i would say if they were there tonight and milan played like they did, Chelski and Manure would be european Champs

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Harsh on Pennant, he may not be the most popular player we have for various reasons but I think in the last few months he's put some real performances in for us. He should only be sold if we bring a real world beater in. He has come kinda good in the second half of the season worth his place in the squad as back up for a World Class Winger

Bolo has invaluable experience and versatility. He's not my favourite player but he has a place in the squad for me. Id have to say sell him will cope

Gonzo should go on loan, he needs a confidence boost. Most probaly sell him if we can find another world class winger. no point sending him off on loan to la liga we've seen what he can do there its the prem where he's been poor

Fowler-out of contract, leaves a hero agree

Kewell-if a buyer can be found it may be time to cash in.ive had enough of the false starts sell him for a good price or in a part exchange

Sami-deserves to be helped to find a good club.this is true or maybe keep him for another year the man has been immense since he's come

Arbeloa- bit earlier to bin him. bin him if we get m.richards or bale

I agree we need a left winger, we've needed one since Barnes stopped playing there
Striker is a key position-Rafa must do everything he can to try and get Eto'o.

...........totally agree he needs to now buy the best and pay the best thats what manure and chelski have done and they've become winners.

[akjs123]

Rafa got his tactics and formation right but the players wrong. If you look at our starting 11, the combined number of goals scored by them throughout the champions league campaign is only 4 or 5 and that speaks for itself. Rafa should have started Crouch from the start and Kuyt would have played where Gerrard played. Pennant should have been on the bench. Pennant did well no doubt but Gerrard would have done much much better. I remember 3 or 4 times when there was player on the left in the open making a run who needed the early ball which Pennant didnt even attempt to deliver. There were a couple of times in which he was afraid to beat Maldini for pace. I mean ffs the man is 38.

[Guest]

Rafa once again proved that he has few equals tactically and by the way he prepares his team in Europe. We played magnificently tonight, controlling the play and nullifying Milan's attacking threat to one long range shot from Kaka in the first half. The first goal changed the game.

With more quality players we'll be in a situation to dominate domestically and in Europe in the years to come, make no mistake about that. I know we were the better team last night and football has a habit to kick you in the teeth but our old failings this year has been to score when we were on top, and it was cruelly exposed last night.

We'll be back a better team. This team isn't finished yet, it only needs more polishing.

All hail Rafa and the boys for making us proud last night. I was.

[hairykewell]

The only thing Rafa has to hold his hand up for is buying strikers who aren't good enough to wear the Liverpool shirt!

We outplayed the best team in Europe, Milan don't give you many chances and you have to take them when they come!!

He got his tactics right anyone who says otherwise knows f*ck all about football!!

[friedk]

The only time Rafa has to hold his hand up in Europe this season is to acknowledge the adoration of his countless admirers

The game was a microcosm of our team as a whole, we're a very good side, but lacking those few quality additions we need to make us great.

Often when we outplay a top side I read it is because they played badly, but I think it is more than just coincidence that we have taken on some of the best teams in Europe and made them look ordinary.

We played last night like a team who deserves to play on the greatest stage and I am incredibly proud of the team, Rafa and his staff. Tactically we were spot on and with more creativity on the flanks and a better striker we would have won. That we didn't is down to a collection of bad luck and lack of quality players who should, if our new owners are as good as their word, be with us next season.

In 2003 we never made it past the group stages of the competition, slaughtered by Valencia, and unable to overcome a group that contained Basle and Spartak Moscow.

In 2004 we never even made the competition and were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Marseille.

In the two seasons before Rafa took over we won a grand total of 34 league games. In our last two season we have won 45 league games and that would probably have been more had we played full strength teams in our last few games.

Since Rafa arrived he has created a team capable of reaching Europe's premier competition twice in 3 years, after taking over a side who were at best mediocre and totally reliant on the goal-scoring of Owen, a player Rafa lost just before the close of the transfer window in his first season.

Be very proud of your team.

And be very proud of Rafa Benitez.

[Tom]

Good post (above NOT the ****e posted to start this thread).

Rafa got it spot on last night given the personnel he has available to him. Football can be cruel and we didn't get the breaks when we needed it.

If we'd played 442 we would never have been able to contain that team. Zenden wasn't the problem, he did ok, Kewell couldn't play from the start as he wasn't fit enough. You could see that when he came on. He still isn't match fit.

We're a very well-organised team, but that can take you only so far. We need more quality on the flanks (both of them) and an absolutely top rate striker.

[blacky]

I don't think Rafa's system was wrong. We dictated the game and never allowed Milan play their passing game. The problem is we don't have the players to fit the system. Our wide players on the night (Zenden, Kewell & Pennant) have managed 2 goals between them all season. Kuyt had not scored in the CL and Gerrard is obviously not comfortable playing in the hole. We never looked like we had a genuine goal threat. Hard work and endeavour can only get us so far. I am proud of the way we took the game to Milan and genuinely think we deserved to win but until we get world class players to play in Rafa's different systems we will always flatter to deceive. The potentail to be great is there. I think losing a final like this can be character building and we can come back a stronger team next season however mistakes we made last night both by the players and rafa himself and I hope we learn from them. Please Rafa next season let's not be always so cautious in your approach!!

[Icon]

4-4-1-1-1-1-1-1 or whatever was wrong.

Kuyt is no perdator and we had no finisher on the pitch.

Same old same old.