Wigan Post Match

[Guest]

Tell me when did I say he should be sacked? I haven't said that once. What I said was that I can understand why the team was booed and I don't blame paying supporters for doing so.

It hasn't been good enough, fredo. Surely you can see that? Rafa, yes Rafa not a new manager, has to make improvements in the teams attitude and how we approach games.

I want Rafa here. I like him as a man and a manager. I don't like results like tonight when we fail to capatalise on a 1-0 lead when we've got two games in hand to keep ourselves in the title race.

We've shot ourselves in the foot yet again tonight and the race for fourth is back on as it seems to be every year.

So why pick up on me Kurt ??? How did this come to that point ?

I've never said that you've said so, but you've picked up on me for whatever reason.

To my eyes, we're progressing steadily but others are too. We should steal a march on the clubs above us by outspending us for the best players. If not, it will take more time, but Rafa will get there if he's given time.

I'll say it, bar the result, we were very good today.

[FatTony]

Had we won the game and that's FACT. NOBODY would have moaned. Had Gerrard cleared that ball, or had we scored just ONE MORE GOAL from the various chances we created

If my uncle had tits he'd be my auntie

[Red Chilli]

Is this Rafa's fault?

With the money he has spent, trying to catch up the other teams, is this his fault?

If it is, call for his sacking. Go on.

Yes it is his fault.

Blame the players? The vast majority were signed by him and he's had 4 years to change that.
He's the manager, he caries the can for results. That's professional sports, it's a tough game

[MrMichael]

He's a winner Michael, that's the difference to me. Rafa's a top bloke, lovely guy, huge amount of respect for him, happily invite him round to my place anytime. I can't say the same for Jose, but he knows how to set up a team to win tough games. He knows how to win ugly, that's something I don't think Rafa has.

Well, playing devils for a second, Rafa's overall record is also that of a winner. Take the £300m away, I don't see that much difference. I certainly didn't when we won tough against Jose's Chelsea in a few memorable CL games.

We have major problems but to sack Rafa and replace him with Mourinho would be ridiculous.

Not to mention scandalous. As I've said many times on here before, I would sick to the pit of my stomach if he was ever employed by LFC. Sick to the pit of my stomach.

It just wouldn't feel right. It wouldn't change my support for the team, but intrinsically there is something very wrong about the prospect.

He can't be the only "proven winner" in world football..... can he?

[JohnDoe]

You are crazy. Are you honestly saying that Gerrard is better up front than Crouch? Are you honestly saying that our 2 strikers are not natural goal scorers????

Did I say better up front? I said better in the role behind the striker. Kuyt and Voronin are not natural goalscorer. Gerrard is a proven, consistent goalscorer and has been that for a good amount of time.

They may not be the BEST strikers in the world, but I can tell you now that Crouch is a natural goal scorer....

For all his abilities, Crouch has never ever ever ever been a consistent goalscorer or a consistent finisher and I rate him.

Yes,

Reina
Finnan Arbeloa Carragher Aurelio
Pennant Alonso Gerrard Kewell
Crouch Torres

would have been better against Wigan than this

Reina
Finnan Arbeloa Carragher Aurelio
Alonso Mascherano
Pennant Gerrard Kewell
Torres

Alonso and Gerrard work well together in the centre and know how to play this way blindfolded.

A matter of opinion.

[Guest]

You are crazy. Are you honestly saying that Gerrard is better up front than Crouch? Are you honestly saying that our 2 strikers are not natural goal scorers????

They may not be the BEST strikers in the world, but I can tell you now that Crouch is a natural goal scorer....

Yes,

Reina
Finnan Arbeloa Carragher Aurelio
Pennant Alonso Gerrard Kewell
Crouch Torres

would have been better against Wigan than this

Reina
Finnan Arbeloa Carragher Aurelio
Alonso Mascherano
Pennant Gerrard Kewell
Torres

Alonso and Gerrard work well together in the centre and know how to play this way blindfolded.

Why tell him he's crazy ?

Crouch isn't good enough for me. Stevie playing as a roaming player brings us more options. We had plenty of movement today.

Pennant and Kewell aren't 100% fit yet but it's all coming together IMO. It would not have been a travesty if we had won both matches (City and Wigan) 4-0 and all would have been different.

[JohnDoe]

Yes it is his fault.

Blame the players? The vast majority were signed by him and he's had 4 years to change that.
He's the manager, he caries the can for results. That's professional sports, it's a tough game

You want him out. Fine, want him out.

[Red Chilli]

Couple of things: Jose didn't spent 300 million, Ranieri spent most of Roman's dosh. How much did jose spend before his first title win? Not much IIRC.

Secondly, I'm dismayed that people want us to be more like Chavski and throw money at the problem rather than more like Arsenal and change the way we play and approach games.

I'd rather follow Arsenal's example than Chavski's

[Guest]

I'm only messing with you Fredo

I think everyone's a tad stressed because, let's face it, that's our title ambitions over. 33-1 on Betfair now

There is still 18 matches left for us isn't it ? And it's never been in our make up to throw in the towel half way through the season.

[JohnDoe]

If my uncle had tits he'd be my auntie

Yeah, but the things I've stated had nothing to do with the freaking formation right?

[Red Chilli]

You want him out. Fine, want him out.

OK, I'll bite the bullet, I want a manager who can challenge for the title and I don't think Rafa has that ability. Take that how you want it

[Guest]

He's a winner Michael, that's the difference to me. Rafa's a top bloke, lovely guy, huge amount of respect for him, happily invite him round to my place anytime. I can't say the same for Jose, but he knows how to set up a team to win tough games. He knows how to win ugly, that's something I don't think Rafa has.

Rafa is a winner too, you can't dispute that isn't it ?

If you look at our football, it's clear we're progressing.

[Shaggy]

Anyone know what Rafa said post match?

[Red Chilli]

Rafa is a winner too, you can't dispute that isn't it ?

If you look at our football, it's clear we're progressing.

Progressing from what?

From where Houllier left us? Well I certainly hope so, we couldn't get much worse at that point.
But if you think we've progressed in the last 2 seasons I'd have to challenge you on that.

[5aq1b]

Couple of things: Jose didn't spent 300 million, Ranieri spent most of Roman's dosh. How much did jose spend before his first title win? Not much IIRC.

Secondly, I'm dismayed that people want us to be more like Chavski and throw money at the problem rather than more like Arsenal and change the way we play and approach games.

I'd rather follow Arsenal's example than Chavski's

He spent £225m, with £141m in his first season.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/09/20/ufntransfers120.xml