Lots of negative stuff about Rafa

[Tom]

There's loads of research that shows that when you change managers you get an initial "bounce" then your results revert to or get worse than they were before. Mourinho had unlimited funds, Wenger is an exceptional coach and so is rafa. There is no guarantee, in fact quite the opposite, that an incoming coach would improve things

[kewellnthegang]

Rafa Out?

I'm going to bite the bullet.

I love Rafa for winning no.5.

I love him for the F.A Cup.

I love him for the beard.

But.....we are playing ****e football and there is no way we can win the league while playing like that that.

Are we going to win with Rafa?

so we sack him as ya say

and who do we get ?

[kewellnthegang]

Valencia also drew the next two games so if we manage to do better than that we'll be on course to have a better season

Edit: Wait a minute, it gets better:

Valencia's record in games 12-16:

W0 D3 L2

im lovin that bit of info fella nice one

[Shaggy]

i think to hit the panic button and sacking Rafa now would be wrong.

Does our recent run of results constitute simple poor form or does it hint at deeper rooted problems within the squad?

I look at the way we have lost/drawn games recently and I don't think anyone could question the spirit and work ethic amongst the players, so even if they hate rotation its not effecting their ability to play as a team.

WHat has effected us imo is the manner in which we've conceded the goals. Virtually every single one could be avoided (only that marseille goal was a cracker imo) with better collective and/or individual defending.

the inuries to the players currently out and the ones to players who are now back (stevie f and g, carra still finding their form if you ask me) has effected our rhythm and yet we're still there or there abouts, with 3 key players to come back and the whole squad able to play at least 10-20% better.

Rafa tried to buy heinze who without doubt would be playing at the moment, it would appear that Rafa knows that JAR is not up to it (no contract offer and he has 18 montsh left) and that Sami's legs have gone.

he can be criticised for not having a fall back plan to Heinze and he can be criticised for his use of kyut over crouch (which is madness imo and stubborn pride on rafa's part)

But those 2 criticisms are about it in light of how many players we've lost to injury in the 18 games we've played for far this season imo

Blackburn haven't lost to any of the big 4 this season and I'm sure they'll give the mancs a game next weekend, so a point there is not so bad at any time, let alone the present circumstances.

This may sound like a RCDNW post but I don't think all is rosy at the moment. We have some problems, but they are not terminal imo. A few changes in january, players to get back to previous levels of consistency one fully fit and a bit of confidence that only a few decent results will bring.

if a CL win, a losing final, FA Cup win and the highest points tally since we last won the league don't buy Rafa any breathing space, then we might as well be like spurs and the geordies, sack our manager every 18 months to 3 seasons and admit that being in the champions league is the limit to our ambitions.

[alunevans]

Judging by Valencia's season, we'll finish the season with 80-85 points, which will be massive progress from last season and a genuine title challenge if not a title win (the winners this season will not exceed 85 points this time, IMO)

I'm quoting myself on that, feel free to ridicule me if I'm wrong on my prediction.

JohnDoe predicts Liverpool will finish the league with 80-85 points.

The league is ours

80 to 85 points would in my view looking at past points tallies put us either 3rd or possibly sneaking 2nd. I don't see us winning the league on that points tally.

Nonetheless, if we got 85 points at the end of the season then I'd be delighted with that.

[Shaggy]

I think the winning points total this year will be a bit lower than the last couple of seasons.

[alunevans]

I don't agree with the first part of that but I do certainly share your views on the second part. Rafa should get at least until the end of this season but he should most definitely be judged on this season.

Should we finish well off the pace in 3rd or 4th - or heaven forbid 5th - he has to go. If we enjoy a resurgence and finish a close 3rd or higher then he will undoubtedly have earned another shot.

For all his bafflements at the moment, I think Rafa has already earned some time surely. We're 11 games in, and as disappointing as it's been, who knows what the season will bring.

If any Liverpool manager finishes 5th I think it's reason to let them go personally, but that aside (which won't happen) then even a 3rd or 4th position shouldn't put his position in question at that time.

For me, it would add the pressure onto the season afterwards, but he's earned enough in the bank in my view to be given that season to show that we can challenge.

If we are still a 3rd or 4th place team in 2009 after investment then I think it'd be time to take a look at the managerial position and probably come to the conclusion that with several years of attempts, and two seasons worth of investment, he was unable to turn us into a team capable of challenging.

But I'll save those questions for 2009, not for now and not for the Summer.

[alunevans]

I think the winning points total this year will be a bit lower than the last couple of seasons.

Possibly, it does happen. Man U won it with 83pts in 2003 and before then the winners got the 80 odd points marker. But ever since the bar seems to have risen.

[RedProf]

I understand people's concerns with certain players and the performances, but there is so much short sightedness on here its untrue. I can't believe some people would be happy with a new manager......who exactly? And how long do you give them to turn it around - bearing in mind they'd probably want to ship out Rafa's players and bring in their own to match their own footballing style and philosophy. I'd doubt they'd be able to do a Mourinho and win it 1st time. So that means another few years before we can challenge/win it. And that's assuming this new person is fantastic and can transform things to be winners etc. And if he bombs in 12/24 mths, no doubt the same people will be calling for his head...........for ****s sake, we should all be in this for the long haul, not the short term.........or we are the next Newcastle, Tottenham etc.

But I re-iterate - I understand and share people's concerns with performances and certain players, but as a few have said, we should be letting the season play out and see how it turns out in May at the very least.

[Shaggy]

I understand people's concerns with certain players and the performances, but there is so much short sightedness on here its untrue. I can't believe some people would be happy with a new manager......who exactly? And how long do you give them to turn it around - bearing in mind they'd probably want to ship out Rafa's players and bring in their own to match their own footballing style and philosophy. I'd doubt they'd be able to do a Mourinho and win it 1st time. So that means another few years before we can challenge/win it. And that's assuming this new person is fantastic and can transform things to be winners etc. And if he bombs in 12/24 mths, no doubt the same people will be calling for his head...........for ****s sake, we should all be in this for the long haul, not the short term.........or we are the next Newcastle, Tottenham etc.

But I re-iterate - I understand and share people's concerns with performances and certain players, but as a few have said, we should be letting the season play out and see how it turns out in May at the very least.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Not ****in interested how many points he won to win the league with Valencia.

This is LFC, this is now.

He's not cutting it, is he?

It's good that the likes of Mourinho are around to put pressure on him.

[Guest]

Not ****in interested how many points he won to win the league with Valencia.

This is LFC, this is now.

He's not cutting it, is he?

It's good that the likes of Mourinho are around to put pressure on him.

Wait till May next year.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Wait till May next year.

Yes he should be judged then I agree.

But I want to see at least play with a bit more flair, attacking freedom.

The current ****e we're getting served weekly is getting me down.

[Guest]

Yes he should be judged then I agree.

But I want to see at least play with a bit more flair, attacking freedom.

The current ****e we're getting served weekly is getting me down.

One answer: Lack of confidence.

Once we start scrapping some wins on the trot, confidence will come back. We're slowly starting to scrap and still win points. That will stand us in good stead.

Arsenal and Manure are flying but still, we're just 6 points off them (and one game in hand as regards to manure), and we're (allegedly) playing ****e.

I can see only positives.

[biggidawg]

get rid of this stupid thread... total bull****, support him, a dip in form is from players not performing...the thing is if a player isnt playng well he gets dropped! but u cant drop your squad!!

this **** pissed me off