back to reality with a bump

[Joe King]

We talked a lot before the season started about getting a good start to the season and picking up wins away from home and I'd say we have done those things but not to a convincing manner.

Yes, we thrashed Derby (but who didn't expect that?) dominated Sunderland (we should do, the quality between the two sides was seen) should have beaten Chelsea (looking back, we should have got a second before that penalty) and also could have been said about Villa.

This is just the 'crash' we needed at this point in the season. This draw even though Pompey had better chances does feel like two points dropped and to some it feels like a loss looking at the other results. This drop in points will give the squad players like Sissoko, Benayoun, Voronin and Crouch a big kick up the backsides. I doubt we will see 3 of those players playing together for a very long time.

It might have been international week and Pompey is no easy place to go but if Liverpool are to be title challengers, Liverpool should be fielding a strong side which includes either Gerrard or Torres from the start and also beating teams like Pompey even though it is a difficult place to go.

[Sir Bob]

Hopefully we will play 60+ games this season.
Rafa unlike you,is looking to the future.
He has to balance 20 players over the season.
If we put out our best team every week we`d be fecked by December.

I didn't say we should play the same 11 every week did i.

Of course we need to rotate the team, I just think today , away at a strong team like pompey was the wrong game to do so and the performance backed this view up. we were poor and were lucky to get a point.

we should rest players against porto and Brum not today.

[Sir Bob]

Mate, it's a lost cause. Some people just won't get it. We need to play the same 11 each week in the premiership, even though if they're injured.

****in get off your high horse mate, you'd think you were the only one with a point of view. did i say play injured players...no. did i say play the same 11 every game ...no.

[Sir Bob]

That should have been phrased: "Crouch let Rafa down today". More to the point.

Howdid crouch let Rafa down today. Crouch did ok and put the required effort in.

I rate Rafa very highly but some on here treat him as some sort of messiah. He's a great manager but not infallible. he makes mistakes, he did so today in my view by resting players who should have played. SG & Torres ahould have started and rest them against either Porto or Brum.

[Marky]

That should have been phrased: "Crouch let Rafa down today". More to the point.

Wise up fredo lad, he had damn all service. He needs service in order to show his worth.
He isn't like Torres or even Kuyt who can go out wide and take players on.

[slimbimjim]

Just wait until the African Nations Cup kicks in!

Arsenal and Chelsea will have a few problems...

[thekop]

If we'd have won today you'd be calling Benitez (or 'beneitez' if you prefer) a tactical genius...

Spot on mate

How soon some of us forget

[Johnny]

Wise up fredo lad, he had damn all service. He needs service in order to show his worth.
He isn't like Torres or even Kuyt who can go out wide and take players on.

Talking through your hole kid.

[wildman]

Lucky?? They had one miss from a good chance in the second half. That apart, Reina's only proper save was from the penalty.

We missed a couple of very decent chances too.

I don't know where you get the notion that people think it's a foregone conclusion we're going to win the league. I haven't heard a single person say as much.

And thanks for your views on team selection poicy but on the whole I'd rather have Benitez's ideas implemented than yours

:whatever: So why come on a forum then, I have a right to comment you fool

[friedk]

no manager gets his selection right 38 games in a row.

no team plays well 38 games in a row.

we got a point more than last season (and the season before?)

it wasn't a great day, but still 7 points from our first 3 away games is 7 more than last season.

[desertscouser]

****in get off your high horse mate, you'd think you were the only one with a point of view. did i say play injured players...no. did i say play the same 11 every game ...no.

Totally agree with you Sir Bob. There are so many idiots on here who simply will not accept that any criticism may well be valid.

[JPK]

Totally agree with you Sir Bob. There are so many idiots on here who simply will not accept that any criticism may well be valid.

Totally agree with both of ye.