Post match - Marseille

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

But I don't think it is fair to accuse Benitez of favouring one competition over another because I suspect he doesn't like it anymore than the rest of us.

That's the big question for me, was it Rafa of his own volition, or was is he taking orders from the club heirarchy to win the Marseille game, or else.

But that doesn't excuse what he did with those subs, to me he quit, and that disappoints me. I knew he wasn't perfect, but a quitter? ****ing hell.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Now we agree on something!

Haha, you didn't even need to edit that one.

*******.

[AFII]

Yes it was.

Because he gave up on the chance to pick up points that might be vital, in favour of a game that means less to most (I hope) Liverpool fans.

I'm sorry but I'll never forget this, he went well down in my estimation on Saturday night, and I won't fully respect him until he fully respects our league like he should.

And I really don't care if people think I'm a complete whinging cunt, that's the way I ****in see it.

Well, we will see at the end of the season who got it right, you or Rafa.

The only thing I blame Rafa for against Reading is that he played Sissoko instead of Lucas but he probably had a reason, maybe he wasn't 100% fit.

I won't blame Rafa for things I don't know anything about.

[red g]

Yes it was.

Because he gave up on the chance to pick up points that might be vital, in favour of a game that means less to most (I hope) Liverpool fans.

I'm sorry but I'll never forget this, he went well down in my estimation on Saturday night, and I won't fully respect him until he fully respects our league like he should.

And I really don't care if people think I'm a complete whinging cunt, that's the way I ****in see it.

Hypothetical question..............


would you take 3pts at reading and no Masher and no champs league OR
0 pts at reading, Masher and champs league?


I dont know the inside of Anfield boardroom.....BUT what if hee was told you can have masher if you get us through?

Pure specualation i know.......but your speculating on his reason, so can i

[Craig_H]

NO, but i learnt my lesson after going f'in mad at him in 2004 when he gave up the chase for 4th place

every manager makes mistakes,
i think his starting line up on sat was a mistake,
i would also like him to stop over analyzing things...
I wish he would never play Sissoko or riise

but there is not a manager in world football i would take over him, he was born to be a liverpool manager and i see no reason to jump down his throat at every opportunity until he is making more mistakes than winning moves

Then we agree.

And i dont want anyone else over him either.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Hypothetical question..............


would you take 3pts at reading and no Masher and no champs league OR
0 pts at reading, Masher and champs league?


I dont know the inside of Anfield boardroom.....BUT what if hee was told you can have masher if you get us through?

Pure specualation i know.......but your speculating on his reason, so can i

Competing for the league properly, giving it everything, every time.

[Harv]

Now we're getting somewhere harvey, you're accepting he clearly made a mistake. I'm not now saying sack him...i still back him. I'm just furious that a silly mistake cost us points we should never have lost.

I never said he didnt make a mistake though.

I just didnt make a big song and dance about it as some on here have.

The players that were on the pitch were good enough is my final word on the matter.


If i caused any offense with my swear (maybe two depending on how you deem ****s), then you have my apologies. I was just a bit miffed as to why people were still bleating on about the result on saturday when we just had our biggest ever away win in the Champions league at such a hostile arena.

[Sir Bob]

I think its perfectly obvious that Saturday's mess was a direct result of preparing for tonights game. Like it or not, and I don't, tonights game was bigger because of the cash involved. However, if we are to win the league under Rafa, this season or any season for that mater, then the league game at places like Reading will have to take priority over CL games that follow.

Last season, the Mancs played a full strength 11 in the league whenever possible. The result being they won the league but were goosed by the time the CL semi came around. Had they rested key players during the season in league games, they may well have won the CL but not the league. I think its virtually impossible to win the CL and a major domestic title in the same year.

[kurtangle01]

Haha, you didn't even need to edit that one.

*******.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist!!

[kurtangle01]

Competing for the league properly, giving it everything, every time.

I understand what you're saying. I do think though that perhaps Rafa favoured tonight over Saturday for two reasons. First reason is that if we lost on Saturday we still have time to turn it around. Not an ideal scenario but I suppose it's the way it happened. If we'd lost tonight though it was all over.

Secondly, I think if Rafa hadn't qualified he would've been in a very tricky position when he goes to meet Gillett and Hicks next week.

Just the way I see it.

[Craig_H]

I never said he didnt make a mistake though.

I just didnt make a big song and dance about it as some on here have.

The players that were on the pitch were good enough is my final word on the matter.


If i caused any offense with my swear (maybe two depending on how you deem ****s), then you have my apologies. I was just a bit miffed as to why people were still bleating on about the result on saturday when we just had our biggest ever away win in the Champions league at such a hostile arena.

Dont worry about it mate, i know you and you're a sound fella, no offence taken

[Craig_H]

I think its perfectly obvious that Saturday's mess was a direct result of preparing for tonights game. Like it or not, and I don't, tonights game was bigger because of the cash involved. However, if we are to win the league under Rafa, this season or any season for that mater, then the league game at places like Reading will have to take priority over CL games that follow.

Last season, the Mancs played a full strength 11 in the league whenever possible. The result being they won the league but were goosed by the time the CL semi came around. Had they rested key players during the season in league games, they may well have won the CL but not the league. I think its virtually impossible to win the CL and a major domestic title in the same year.

The way to avoid such problems would've been to have qualified from our group already. Would've been a far different weighting of priority.

[Alpha]

That's the big question for me, was it Rafa of his own volition, or was is he taking orders from the club heirarcy to win the Marseille game, or else.

But that doesn't excuse what he did with those subs, to me he quit, and that disappoints me. I knew he wasn't perfect, but a quitter? ****ing hell.

What if it had been decided before the game, come what may, that our key players would all be subbed to keep them fresh for tonight?

Does anybody actually know for sure that Benitez made those substitutions because he had given up?

If nothing else, he at least deserves some credit for the hugely significant result tonight that was achieved as a result of Saturday's sacrifice, which equally, he deserves some criticism for.

[Elrond]

There are some people here that are just never happy ...

"Tonight confirmed that the league is more important than the CL" ??

That is a load of **** in my opinion. What would you have liked to see ? Momo and Mascher midfield, Kuyt and Voronin up front and Gerrard and Torres rested just to show you that the league is important too ??

I was just as pissed as you that we lost to Reading, but considering that the game tonight and then 5 days later we have the Mancs, I can understand Rafa's thoughts. Torres was kicked all over the place and lets be frank, we need him over the hectic schedule we have coming up ...

If we cannot beat Reading without Torres or Gerrard, then we have some SERIOUS issues. Rafa is doing what he does best, managing the fitness of the players over the entire season. I know you say it's only 20 minutes extra, but that extra time on the pitch may have hindered Gerrard and Torres in their stunning performances tonight or against the Mancs...

[fah-q]

Whilst I'm in agreement will both Niall and DJS over the Reading game I'd counter it with the view that we actually gained two points on Arse over the last two games. Thus we are two points closer to the top.

As a club and with the quality of squad we supposedly have we should be able to run rings round Reading as well as beat OM and Manure. The issue for me are that 1/ Our squad doesn't have that strength in depth to cope without SG and Torres (and before someone comes back with nor could Manure, Arse etc - who gives a **** who they can't cope with) 2/ Too much pressure has been placed on Rafa to achieve the knockout stages of the CL which shows me that money rules and the Americans haven't a clue 3/ Why the **** was SG and Torres kept on for so long when we were walking it with such an important game to come yet on Saturday they were pulled off when losing. It makes no sense at all. Rafa may know what he is doing but I'll wager no one else does. Sometimes he invites pressure on himself. Perhaps that's just his way.

Good call, esp the highlighted bit