All those who want Rafa sacked...

[bazza76]

Rafa got that substitution correct. But his justification for it bothers me. If he had said "Lucas came on and won the pen that won us the game" nobody would've questioned it. But to say he withdrew Gerrard for "showing too much passion" makes no sense whatsoever. Say he was playing poorly, though there were worse who were left on, say it was tactical, but don't criticize a player for wanting, trying his best to win the match. It was a fatuous thing to say.

The scum won the league last year with a thin squad in certain positions. And really do those players I've listed do anything for us other than maintain the squad numbers? What do we get with Sissoko? Awful passing. Pennant? Over and under hitting crosses. Kuyt? Headless chicken routine and seal clapping the kop. Riise? Hoofing, and a few Casualty visits for people in the crowd who get hit by his mi**** rockets.

My point being is that it's wrong to keep these players because we might get a few injuries, rather than keeping them and letting them play and drag the quality and more importantly the results of the team down.

Re Mourinho I was merely pointing out an Attribute of Mourinhos management style which I think is more effective than Rafas, his man-management/bond with his players. I wasn't suggesting we sack Rafa and bring him in or anything.

I think you might be looking too much into Rafa' justification of taking gerrard off Nial, I think what he was refering too was that Gerrard, wanting to captain the team so badly to a win, he lost focus and vacated midfield too often leaving nobody there to dictate the game. f Gerrard had been showing passion in a diciplined way, Rafa would not have said what he did.

[AFII]

From a season on the brink....

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.

Fits in 100% on Rafa and why Kuyt plays as much as he do.

[tomasjj]

I think you might be looking too much into Rafa' justification of taking gerrard off Nial, I think what he was refering too was that Gerrard, wanting to captain the team so badly to a win, he lost focus and vacated midfield too often leaving nobody there to dictate the game. f Gerrard had been showing passion in a diciplined way, Rafa would not have said what he did.

Aye, this was my understanding of it as well.
He said nothing about passion not being important...but that you had to play with the inside of your head as well as being passionate...

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I think you might be looking too much into Rafa' justification of taking gerrard off Nial, I think what he was refering too was that Gerrard, wanting to captain the team so badly to a win, he lost focus and vacated midfield too often leaving nobody there to dictate the game. f Gerrard had been showing passion in a diciplined way, Rafa would not have said what he did.

I just don't understand.

He wasn't vacating the midfield if I remember rightly. We were playing against 10 men with Mascherano and Sissoko in a 5 man midfield. And when he did vacate the midfield he won a penalty.

An explanation I can accept was that Gerrard wasn't carrying out Rafas tactical instructions properly. But then Rafa's tactics were hardly effective were they?

His substitution of Lucas for Gerrard in hindsight was the correct one. But Rafas reasoning for it makes no sense to me.

Maybe it was a translation thing in Rafas head at the time of the interview. Because if it was anything else it makes you wonder.

[AFII]

Rafa likes his team to play in a very strict tactical way and if one or two of the players don't follow orders, like Stevie for example, then it may ruin most of Rafa's tactics.

Stevie runs around like a headless chicken sometimes so I can understand if Rafa takes him off in some games.

[tomasjj]

I think I could see what Rafa meant. SG was picking up the ball and running at their defence, because he was desperate for something to happen, but it didn't create much.

It seemed to be he wanted Lucas to shift the ball quickly so that we could create some openings around their box.

[bazza76]

I just don't understand.

He wasn't vacating the midfield if I remember rightly. We were playing against 10 men with Mascherano and Sissoko in a 5 man midfield. And when he did vacate the midfield he won a penalty.

An explanation I can accept was that Gerrard wasn't carrying out Rafas tactical instructions properly. But then Rafa's tactics were hardly effective were they?

His substitution of Lucas for Gerrard in hindsight was the correct one. But Rafas reasoning for it makes no sense to me.

Maybe it was a translation thing in Rafas head at the time of the interview. Because if it was anything else it makes you wonder.

Maybe he didn't put it across in English properly, but I understood what he was saying. He just wanted some more control in the game and to make proper use of the extra man, Rafa was of the opinion that passing the ball about properly would help our cause, which Stevie wasn't doing.

[bazza76]

I just don't understand.

He wasn't vacating the midfield if I remember rightly. We were playing against 10 men with Mascherano and Sissoko in a 5 man midfield. And when he did vacate the midfield he won a penalty.

An explanation I can accept was that Gerrard wasn't carrying out Rafas tactical instructions properly. But then Rafa's tactics were hardly effective were they?

His substitution of Lucas for Gerrard in hindsight was the correct one. But Rafas reasoning for it makes no sense to me.

Maybe it was a translation thing in Rafas head at the time of the interview. Because if it was anything else it makes you wonder.

Maybe he didn't put it across in English properly, but I understood what he was saying. He just wanted some more control in the game and to make proper use of the extra man, Rafa was of the opinion that passing the ball about properly would help our cause, which Stevie wasn't doing.
Ohh, now that I am thinking of it, If I remember correctly, stevie was also showing signs of tiredness, as he had been doing so much running and trying to do everything, right before he was taken off, his passing and crossing became noticably poorer than his usual standard, this also may have contributed to the showing too much passion comment.

[Rafa Shankly]

I just don't understand.

He wasn't vacating the midfield if I remember rightly. We were playing against 10 men with Mascherano and Sissoko in a 5 man midfield. And when he did vacate the midfield he won a penalty.

An explanation I can accept was that Gerrard wasn't carrying out Rafas tactical instructions properly. But then Rafa's tactics were hardly effective were they?

His substitution of Lucas for Gerrard in hindsight was the correct one. But Rafas reasoning for it makes no sense to me.

Maybe it was a translation thing in Rafas head at the time of the interview. Because if it was anything else it makes you wonder.

maybe rafa didnt actually feel like sharing the exact reasons why he took gerrard off to the world?

im actually of the opinion that gerrard was playing **** around that time for what ever reason,maybe rafa thought he needed a kick up the arse.

what better way of doing this than taking him off in one of the most important games that gerrard plays during a season.

that may be the biggest load of bollox in reality but its a conclusion or opinion as valid as any because the simple fact is we can talk all we want but the reality is that all we see is 22 men running around a field every once in a while.

unfortunately the new lfc.tv do not take us inside the dressing rooms,the training ground or rafas office when the every day nitty gritty events of being involved in liverpool fc are taking place and important decisions are being made.

[paulcooper4]

So if someone says something nice about the city, club and supporters they should keep their job?

i`m not saying that rafa should be sacked now or in the summer , but if he doesn`t deliver he should be eventually.

Yes, obviously I think anyone that says something nice about the city of liverpool should manage my football team. Dont speak such complete and utter ****e fella you make yourself sound daft

Luckily for rafa he has delivered so he should be safe in his job for a good while yet.

[El Jefecito]

Rafa got that substitution correct. But his justification for it bothers me. If he had said "Lucas came on and won the pen that won us the game" nobody would've questioned it. But to say he withdrew Gerrard for "showing too much passion" makes no sense whatsoever. Say he was playing poorly, though there were worse who were left on, say it was tactical, but don't criticize a player for wanting, trying his best to win the match. It was a fatuous thing to say.

The scum won the league last year with a thin squad in certain positions. And really do those players I've listed do anything for us other than maintain the squad numbers? What do we get with Sissoko? Awful passing. Pennant? Over and under hitting crosses. Kuyt? Headless chicken routine and seal clapping the kop. Riise? Hoofing, and a few Casualty visits for people in the crowd who get hit by his mi**** rockets.

My point being is that it's wrong to keep these players because we might get a few injuries, rather than keeping them and letting them play and drag the quality and more importantly the results of the team down.

Re Mourinho I was merely pointing out an Attribute of Mourinhos management style which I think is more effective than Rafas, his man-management/bond with his players. I wasn't suggesting we sack Rafa and bring him in or anything.

SG tried to do it all himself. When lucas came on it was obvious he was trying to use the TEAM. Based on subsequent performances I think SG has got the message!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Resu]

If you honestly think Man City are likely to challenge for a top 4 place at the end of then season then frankly, with all due respect, you're barmy

I think they`ll drop of whwn thew season goes on, but they might surprise.
They have some goos players, lots of money and a manager with a great record (England not included).
It`s not more than three years since Everton beat us to fourth place.

[Resu]

Yes, obviously I think anyone that says something nice about the city of liverpool should manage my football team. Dont speak such complete and utter ****e fella you make yourself sound daft

Luckily for rafa he has delivered so he should be safe in his job for a good while yet.

I knew what you meant, but IMO it made you look daft.
While I haven`t been too impressed with some of Rafas decisions this season I still thing he`s the best choice for the club. That doesn`t mean he`s perfect, and there should be room to discuss/critise some of his moves.

[StevieG08]

Yes, obviously I think anyone that says something nice about the city of liverpool should manage my football team. Dont speak such complete and utter ****e fella you make yourself sound daft

Luckily for rafa he has delivered so he should be safe in his job for a good while yet.

The thing that amazes me most is that in the last 6 months Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich have all made serious approaches for Rafa to manage them as well as several Spanish players saying how they would like him to coach the national team. Yet fans still question his ability to manage us, how many times was Gerard Houllier, Roy Evans or Souness approached by some of the richest, most important teams in Europe to manage them? Are all these clubs/players wrong in their assessment of him. Was Gerrard wrong when he said Rafa was the best coach he's worked under? Why the **** would we want to change the manager now when we've almost got a squad capable of winning on a consistent basis?

Finally i would like us to have a discussion on what the term 'Supporter' means, because to be quite frank many posters on this forum are not 'supporters' as they constantly snipe at various members of our team in a constant and pretty vindictive way. I'm all for having constructive criticism where it's deserved but people take it way to far and the use of personal insults to players who still wear the red shirt is a disgrace IMO.

( no offence meant for hijacking your post Coops!! )

[paulcooper4]

The thing that amazes me most is that in the last 6 months Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich have all made serious approaches for Rafa to manage them as well as several Spanish players saying how they would like him to coach the national team. Yet fans still question his ability to manage us, how many times was Gerard Houllier, Roy Evans or Souness approached by some of the richest, most important teams in Europe to manage them? Are all these clubs/players wrong in their assessment of him. Was Gerrard wrong when he said Rafa was the best coach he's worked under? Why the **** would we want to change the manager now when we've almost got a squad capable of winning on a consistent basis?

Finally i would like us to have a discussion on what the term 'Supporter' means, because to be quite frank many posters on this forum are not 'supporters' as they constantly snipe at various members of our team in a constant and pretty vindictive way. I'm all for having constructive criticism where it's deserved but people take it way to far and the use of personal insults to players who still wear the red shirt is a disgrace IMO.

( no offence meant for hijacking your post Coops!! )

Hijack away fella, you make my points far better than I do