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    Rafa on the Attack

    Rafael Benitez has vowed to send his Liverpool side on the attack this season after completing the latest stage of his squad rebuilding.
    Following the arrivals of Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun, the boss has a vast array of fresh striking talents at his disposal and he's hoping his new recruits can fire the Reds towards a successful campaign.

    "It is clear that we have quality players coming in and normally that should mean that we will play better," he said.

    "The best teams are proactive rather than reactive. We have been quick in the market and now hopefully we can be quick on the pitch.

    "I hope we can play more like the way I want us to. Defensively the team has been good and we want to attack. We had more crosses and shots than anyone, but we needed to improve our accuracy. Hopefully, with these players the crossing will be better and so will the finishing.

    "In Valencia we had three or four players who all scored between 10 and 15 goals and that's the idea here. If you have one player who can score 20 goals then that is good, but what if he has an injury? Also if the other teams know he is the only player who can score goals, it will be easier for them to control your team in attack.

    "We feel that attacking wise we have a much stronger squad, and we will be able to score more goals with this group of players. We have players of quality in key positions, players who can change a game when we need them to. That will allow us to play more of the style of football we want to at Liverpool."


    For those out there who doubt our manager and think that he is negative in his approach.
    Oh yes there is a long season to go and a lot of players to prove themselves but isn't it good that we have signed 2 of the youngest and possibily brightest talents in Europe at the moment and with the above comments from Rafa I'm in a very positive place with LFC.

    #2
    no **** Rafa!! we had so many chances last year, if only we had the Crow back then!


    "Who's your Daddy now?"

    LFC Champions one season someday
    Jurgen Klopp is just boss
    Semi retired poster
    twitter: @parmsahota
    insta:@parm78

    Comment


      #3
      I hope so, we naff played some boring football last season.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Parm View Post
        no **** Rafa!! we had so many chances last year, if only we had the Crow back then!
        We did have a load of chances to win many games especially at the start of the season people only seem to remember how the season finished.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by The_Milkman View Post
          I hope so, we naff played some boring football last season.
          Agreed we did but mostly after we had lost direction in the league I think we'll see a more prepared and focused team.
          As well as which there is no way Stevie and Xabi will have as bad a season as they did last year.

          Comment


            #6
            RAFA RAVES ON
            LIVERPOOL BORING? SEE US START SCORING! Reds boss signs another striker and vows to light up the Premiership
            David Maddock 14/07/2007

            RAFA BENITEZ believes that he has finally been given a licence to thrill by his new American bosses.

            The Liverpool manager yesterday completed the signings of exciting young Dutch striker Ryan Babel and skilful Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun, and revealed that he was ready to go on the attack.

            The Spanish coach has signed no fewer than five attacking players this summer to transform the look of an Anfield team that was based on solid defence and industry in the forward positions.

            It showed too, in the goals Liverpool have scored under Benitez. In the three years they have had the Spaniard as coach, they have never managed more than 57 goals in the Premiership, an average of just 55 a season.

            When you consider that any team with title pretensions must score more than 70 goals, then Liverpool have been well short, scoring 40-50 goals fewer than their main rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea over that period.

            Benitez believes he now has the fire-power to make an all-out assault on the Premiership - and he believes the fans will see a new-look Liverpool this season.

            "Now, finally, we can compete in the market for exiting young attacking players, and that is what we have done this summer," said Benitez.

            "We feel that attacking wise we have a much stronger squad, and we will be able to score more goals with this group of players. We have been able to go out and find players of quality in those positions, which perhaps in the past we haven't been able to compete for.

            "Now, we have players of quality in the key positions, players who can change a game when we need them too, and that will allow us to play more of the style of football we want to at Liverpool."

            Under Benitez, Liverpool have matched Chelsea for the title of meanest defence in the Premiership, but when it came to scoring they simply did not have the ammunition to hurt opponents.

            But after splashing out almost £50million on the likes of Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin, Sebastien Leto, Babel and Benayoun and several young attacking players for the reserve team, Benitez now believes he can emulate his success at Valencia.

            He twice won the Spanish La Liga with his previous club, and it was based on an attacking policy that often saw him play three men up front, and utilise two skilful, goal-scoring midfielders in wide positions.

            Liverpool can expect more of the same, with Babel and Benayoun likely to be utilised as out and out attacking options on either flank. Benitez said: "Last season we had a team that was very good in defence, and one that created more chances than any other going forward, but didn't take those chances. We really want to attack this year, and maybe now we have the quality to convert the chances.

            "Maybe we also have signed players who can give the quality of delivery from wide positions that will help our goal-scoring."

            Torres will provide the focal point for the attack, but Benitez insists that he wants a broad threat from four or five forward players...just as he had in Spain. "In Valencia we had three, four or even five players who could score 10-15 goals a season, and that is what I want at Liverpool because it gives you more options," he said.

            "If you have one player who scores more than 20 goals then that is good. But if he is the only goal-scorer, then that could be a problem because if he is injured you suffer, and he also becomes a target for the opposition.

            "They know that if they counter his threat, then they can stop your team. But if you have four or five players who can get into the box and score goals, then you have much more variety, and you are far harder to work out and stop.

            "In the past we had to sign players without having any money, but we always wanted to sign players of quality to give us those options, and finally we have had the chance to do that."

            Babel is a perfect example. At 20 he has been described as one of the most exciting young players in Holland, and he can play as a striker or wide on either side, scoring goals from all positions.

            Babel said: "I know I have come into a side with very many players of real quality that will make the competition very strong, but when I spoke with the manager he said I can play in a lot of attacking positions.

            "We had a very good talk and he convinced me Liverpool was the right move for me, even if there is lots of competition. I was very impressed, he was like a very nice uncle. My father was with me and was very impressed.

            "I am not afraid of competition because I believe Liverpool will provide lots of attacking opportunities for me."

            LIVERPOOL

            Premiership goalscoring record under Benitez:

            2006-07 - 57 gls

            2005-06 - 57

            2004-05 - 52

            TOTAL: 166

            MAN UTD

            2006-07 - 83

            2005-06 - 72

            2004-05 - 58

            TOTAL: 213

            CHELSEA

            06-07 - 64

            05-06 - 72

            04-05 - 72

            TOTAL: 208

            ARSENAL

            2006-07 - 63

            2005-06 - 68

            2004-05 - 87

            TOTAL: 218

            Hey big spenders: The alternative Prem table

            1 MAN UTD: £52M

            Owen Hargreaves £18m, Anderson £17m, Nani £14m, Tomasz Kuszczak £3m

            2 LIVERPOOL: £44.8M

            Yossi Benayoun £5m, Andriy Voronin free, Fernando Torres £26.5m, Ryan Babel £11.5m, Ryan Crowther £0.5m, David Amoo £0.2m, Mikel San Jose £0.3m, Nikolay Mikhailov £1m, Krisztian Nemeth free, Andras Simon free, Lucas Leiva £8m, Sebastian Leto £1.8m

            3 TOTTENHAM: £30.5M

            Younes Kaboul £8m, Gareth Bale £5m, Adel Taarabt £1m, Darren Bent £16.5m

            4 PORTSM'TH: £21.5M*

            David Nugent £6m, John Utaka £7m, Arnold Mvuemba £1.5m, Sylvain Distin free, Hermann Hreidarsson free, Sulley Muntari £7m, Martin Cranie free, Callum Reynolds*, Paris Cowan-Hall*

            5 WEST HAM: £20.5M

            Craig Bellamy £7.5m, Richard Wright free, Julien Faubert £6m, Scott Parker £7m

            6 ARSENAL: £17.5M

            Bakary Sagna £6m, Lukasz Fabianski £2m, Eduardo da Silva £7.5m, Havard Nordtveit £2m

            6 FULHAM: £17.5M

            Diomansy Kamara £6m, Chris Baird £3.25m, Aaron Hughes £1m, Steven Davis £4m, Paul Konchesky £3.25m, Matty Collins free

            8 CHELSEA: £13.5M

            Florent Malouda £13.5m, Steve Sidwell free, Claudio Pizarro free, Tal Ben Haim free

            9 MAN CITY: £8.8M

            Rolando Bianchi £8.8m

            10 ASTON VILLA: £8.5M*

            Nigel Reo-Coker £8.5m, Harry Forrester*

            11 MIDDLESBRO: £8.5M

            Jonathan Woodgate £7m, Jeremie Aliadiere £1.5m, Tuncay free

            12 SUNDERLAND: £8.5M

            Michael Chopra £5m, Greg Halford £2.5m, Russell Anderson £1m

            13 NEWCASTLE: £8.8M

            Mark Viduka free, Joey Barton £5.8m, David Rozehnal £3m, Geremi free

            14 DERBY: £8.25M

            Rob Earnshaw £3.5m, Tyrone Mears £1m, Andy Todd £0.75m, Claude Davis £3m

            15 BIRMINGHAM: £7.6M

            Stuart Parnaby free, Garry O'Connor £2.6m, Olivier Kapo £3m, Daniel de Ridder free, Richard Kingston free, Fabrice Muamba £2m

            16 WIGAN: £6.05M

            Jason Koumas £5.3m, Titus Bramble free, Antoine Sibierski free, Mario Melchiot free, Andreas Granqvist £0.75m

            17 EVERTON: £5.5M

            Lucas Jutkiewicz £1.5m, Phil Jagielka £4m

            18 READING: £1.8M

            Kalifa Cisse £0.6m, Andre Bikey £1.2m

            19 BOLTON: £1M

            Zoltan Harsanyi free, Jlloyd Samuel free, Gavin McCann £1m, Gerald Cid free, Blerim Dzemaili free

            20 BLACKBURN: £0.7M

            Maceo Rigters £0.5m, Gunnar Nielsen £0.2m

            *total includes an undisclosed fee

            http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...9520-19454375/
            Just believe and you never know what will happen.

            According to Benitez it's important not simply to go out to win but to go out prepared to win, which means players have to put in the same level of work on a daily basis. Anything else is unacceptable.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by The_Milkman View Post
              I hope so, we naff played some boring football last season.
              But there were lots of good football as well. When the team were allowed to go for it, we dominated (esp -v- Arse and Chavs at home)

              Originally posted by redblood View Post
              We did have a load of chances to win many games especially at the start of the season people only seem to remember how the season finished.

              Indeed, how frustrating was the match at home against the mancs! If we could have put some of those chances away, who knows what could have happened.


              "Who's your Daddy now?"

              LFC Champions one season someday
              Jurgen Klopp is just boss
              Semi retired poster
              twitter: @parmsahota
              insta:@parm78

              Comment


                #8
                It's good to hear such positive statments, may all the doomsayers go home now thank you.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by AFII View Post
                  When you consider that any team with title pretensions must score more than 70 goals, then Liverpool have been well short, scoring 40-50 goals fewer than their main rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea over that period.
                  what a ****ing pointless stat, lets just say we've been 15 goals or so short a season
                  Thomas Hicks Senior

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by The_Milkman View Post
                    I hope so, we naff played some boring football last season.
                    Originally posted by redblood View Post
                    We did have a load of chances to win many games especially at the start of the season people only seem to remember how the season finished.
                    Originally posted by Parm View Post
                    But there were lots of good football as well. When the team were allowed to go for it, we dominated (esp -v- Arse and Chavs at home)




                    Indeed, how frustrating was the match at home against the mancs! If we could have put some of those chances away, who knows what could have happened.
                    Exactly mate, as well as Chavs away Blackburn away etc etc.
                    We could've and should've pushed much closer last year.
                    By the time Christmas was over we had lost some confidence and a bit of momentum.
                    Anyway on to a bigger and better season this season.
                    I can feel it coming this year.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Morphorino View Post
                      what a ****ing pointless stat, lets just say we've been 15 goals or so short a season
                      Even then mate thats not a true reflection, look at the 2005/2006 we were well short of goals to the Mancs but finished 1 point behind.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by redblood View Post
                        Even then mate thats not a true reflection, look at the 2005/2006 we were well short of goals to the Mancs but finished 1 point behind.
                        Of course it's just the way the daft **** put it, the 'goals for' means jack **** at the end of the day, you could win the league scoring only 30-38 goals providing you don't concede any. Seeing as we have a great defence our goals for maybe won't need to be so high
                        Thomas Hicks Senior

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by redblood View Post
                          Even then mate thats not a true reflection, look at the 2005/2006 we were well short of goals to the Mancs but finished 1 point behind.
                          Originally posted by Morphorino View Post
                          Of course it's just the way the daft **** put it, the 'goals for' means jack **** at the end of the day, you could win the league scoring only 30-38 goals providing you don't concede any. Seeing as we have a great defence our goals for maybe won't need to be so high
                          Agreed mate, although it would be nice to see us thrash quite a few teams along the way.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by redblood View Post
                            Agreed mate, although it would be nice to see us thrash quite a few teams along the way.
                            That's it really isn't it, there's very few games that we didn't score in last season, just the mancs do teams 4-1 etc whereas we only do the 1-0, 2-0 etc
                            Thomas Hicks Senior

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Morphorino View Post
                              That's it really isn't it, there's very few games that we didn't score in last season, just the mancs do teams 4-1 etc whereas we only do the 1-0, 2-0 etc
                              Yeah and a little bit of skill/luck to turn the close games in our favour.

                              Comment

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