Wigan Post Match

[Shaggy]

At the end of the day, The Liverpool Way is about winning. i reckon Shanks would agree with me (hypothetical)

Aye, perfectly fair estimation. Not sure I agree but it's fair.

If he got us a few league Titles??

Nope! I wanna win the league the Liverpool Way, not the Mourinho way. Although I'm completely desperate for us to win the title, I'm not quite at the 'glory at all costs' stage - I like to think I have some dignity.

[lfcruleus]

Being slightly more analytical, there'll be some key signs.

Number one, the funds issue. If we dont spend much this month (or even sell) it's clear the board arent backing rafa. If they dont have faith in him, they'll not let him spend, that's obvious. I also dont think they'll let him sell either. They'll want to see what the new man wants to do, before allowing the current coach to make changes.

Secondly, i'm of the opinion that the yanks' patience with rafa ran out when he spat the dummy in public. IMO, there's no doubt whatsoever that they've been in touch with potential replacements already. I think that if they had their way with all factors external, Rafa would've been sacked already. I also feel that having spoken to potential replacements, they've decided on Mourinho. Having spoken to him at length, they'll have obviously noted that he cant legally take any PL job before the end of the season.

That's all that's kept Rafa in a job.

The yanks wont back him in any committed way, either with public statements through the media, or by giving him money to spend. That to me says everything. By the same token though, they wont want the unrest of ditching him mid season and having a rubbish caretaker manager holding the fort. They dont want rafa, but are astute enough to know he's easily capable of ensuring a top four finish.

Once that's secure, Rafa will be sacked and Mourinho will be appointed.

We'll see if i'm right...

**** i agree again...

[Guest]

Merely you pointed out that points 5 and 6 were hypothetical when obviously all the points were, just being pedantic sorry, I dont think DJS actually psychic yet.

[Guest]

Fredo - how late is it in your universe? Sorry, Mauritius

It's 4.20 am.

[Johnny]

He is a winner Shaggs, everyone harps about the money he had at Chelsea but he didnt have it at Porto. Tonight i would take him over Rafa but tommorrow i may have calmed down.

I`m ashamed of you.REALLY!!!!

[Red Chilli]

But if he does'nt ?

But I was just asking that right now, how would most of us fans feel ?? I don't think he's high on the list of most fans.

Managing a football club is difficult and the more the fans apply the pressure, the more difficult it gets. Yes, it's part and parcel of the job, but I don't think anyone would be able to win us the league in one year, unless they're spending huge amounts of money.

I don't like the persona he created in the media, but then I don't like Fergie's media persona either. I've met Fergie, he was a **** in person too, I haven't met Mourinho though so he might be a decent guy, but I doubt it.
The thing is, I may not like Fergie but if he'd won at LFC what he's won at SCUM, I've no doubt I'd be kissing his arse right now.

[Craig_H]

Would you not like him at Liverpool Shaggy i know he's been a **** while in England but thats all an act to get on peoples nerves and play the game as such.

He's a good manager and one i would welcome if Rafa was to leave

Spot on foxy.

I'm surprised that so many shrewd and intelligent posters on here seem not to grasp that.

[Monty]

I have said it and I think it's clear. If you're at pitch level you tend to miss on areas on the pitch (assuming you're at that level). Why does Rafa think it's important to watch DVD's of games then ?

Fredo, no offence mate but give it a rest. You're out of your depth. Anyone who has ever been to the match will tell you that you see a **** sight more of the game than on TV. If you are going to use the "other people influence you at the match" line, you may as well say the same of fookin TV commentators!

Let it go

[Craig_H]

FFS!!!!!



WUM!!!!!!

Yes, i must be on a windup.

Because the 12 point gap, the fans booing, the ructions between manager and owners and the inferior quality of our squad are all figments of my imagination...

[lfcruleus]

I`m ashamed of you.REALLY!!!!

If you had sat in -10C and watched a clueless performance by manager and players tonight you would be equally frustrated, compared to some of the crowd im calm.

[Guest]

Being slightly more analytical, there'll be some key signs.

Number one, the funds issue. If we dont spend much this month (or even sell) it's clear the board arent backing rafa. If they dont have faith in him, they'll not let him spend, that's obvious. I also dont think they'll let him sell either. They'll want to see what the new man wants to do, before allowing the current coach to make changes.

Secondly, i'm of the opinion that the yanks' patience with rafa ran out when he spat the dummy in public. IMO, there's no doubt whatsoever that they've been in touch with potential replacements already. I think that if they had their way with all factors external, Rafa would've been sacked already. I also feel that having spoken to potential replacements, they've decided on Mourinho. Having spoken to him at length, they'll have obviously noted that he cant legally take any PL job before the end of the season.

That's all that's kept Rafa in a job.

The yanks wont back him in any committed way, either with public statements through the media, or by giving him money to spend. That to me says everything. By the same token though, they wont want the unrest of ditching him mid season and having a rubbish caretaker manager holding the fort. They dont want rafa, but are astute enough to know he's easily capable of ensuring a top four finish.

Once that's secure, Rafa will be sacked and Mourinho will be appointed.

I dont 'know' any details, of course i dont. I am not in a position to. But by just analysing the situation and taking things into consideration, i am genuinely convinced that the Mourinho deal is already done. Those who would feel sick at the prospect of him taking over - get the sick bags ready.

We'll see if i'm right...

But now you're analytical ?

As for the Mourihno deal, I don't think it's clear cut. Supporters would ask for Hicks and Gillett head.

[Craig_H]

We'll see.

As for logic, do you feel that most of the supporters will be happy with Mourihno ?

Do you feel the yanks will take that risk ?

I think the yanks will be aware of how fickle football fans are and realise that if/when Mourinho brings success, the majority of fans will lap it up.

In the interim, i think most fans would, regardless of their personal feelings, accept that if Mourinho was appointed, there'd be nothing they could do and gradually see their way to giving him a chance.

Ultimately, results will always dictate how happy the fans are. People say "I'd rather not win the league if it means x/y/z"...to me, that's nonsense.

The people who say that would be revelling in the glory as much as any of us, if we won the league, regardless of who guided us there. And the yanks know this too.

[Kopite_Colin]

Well we're obviously ****ed. Clearly Rafa is banking on Penannt and Kewell to beat men and get the ball into the box - and so he should. He's got to have confidence in his own players.

Unfortunately they were both ****e. Neither are good enough and I suspect, deep down, Rafa knows it but it can't be addressed.

But this is clearly the biggest problem Shags. Rafa has bought 3 of the 4 wide players we currently have on the books, and none of them plus Kewell can get a decent cross in. Neither can Voronin or Kuyt when RAfa asks then to play wide. Too often we hit the first man, or the cross is over-hit. Rafa has gone for quantity over quality in this department (who knows why? Did the club feck him over with Simao / Alves?). But at the end of the day the cold hard fact is that Rafa's record on signing successful wingers and attackers is very, very poor. He's made the decisions on Owen, Baros, Garcia, Morientes, Fowler, Kuyt, Crouch, Bellamy, Voronin, Pennant, Benayoun, Babel, Cisse, Leto, Gonzalez & Torres - plus Kewell has been constantly injured, and he's not gambled on youth (in the shape of the likes of Anderson , Hammill etc.. which maybe an entirely valid thing to do but it was still his choice).

Of that list only Torres has been a roaring success, and we had to pay top dollar to get that. Garcia was erratic, Babel has potential and Crouch has been in and out. But the rest has just been dross.
That's 13 attacking players signed / loaned by Benitez and only one nailed on success to date. That's a % success rate of just 8.3% - 25% if you conside Crouch and Garcia to be a success. That's just too low for a side to compete at the top level.

[Craig_H]

I would appalled mate. Utterly appalled. He is everything The Liverpool Way is not.

What he might do though, is re-unite the Liverpool Way with the notion of winning league titles.

The Liverpool Way was never about being 20 points inferior to any other side either mate.

[Craig_H]

Points 1 to 3 are correct.

The other 3 aren't "totally clear" at all.

Note the first two words of my post