Rafa inviting G&H to sack him

[KK07]

To be honest the squad is far better off then when Rafa joined.

Another quality striker,defender and winger and we'd be flying.

[bazza76]

To be honest the squad is far better off then when Rafa joined.

Another quality striker,defender and winger and we'd be flying.

[Jazzmaster]

To be honest the squad is far better off then when Rafa joined.

Another quality striker,defender and winger and we'd be flying.

Perhaps that is the point though. The squad is much much better, but the results remain average. I dont know what the answer is, but i feel that G&H have seen the progress over the past few years (or lack thereof) and hence the lack of sanction for transfer funds, hence the silence from parry during the recent spat, hence the lack of support from gerrard and carra.....

[StevieG08]

We should never of lost to Reading away, we should of beaten Wigan/Brum/Spurs at home, B'burn and Pompey away were there for the taking and really we should of won against Man City. Even if we had done better in only half those games we would be bang in the middle of a title challenge this year, you could argue the same point last season (although it was away form that cost us last year). People argue about money Rafa has had compared to UTD/Chelsea but he's had far more than the teams that are listed above(save for Spurs/Man City). To win the title you need to destroy the rank and file teams on a consistant basis, Rafa seems unable to get that from his team.

[KK07]

Thank you Mr.UFC

Seriuosly though,if we'd got Heinze and had some worth the tag of Striker up front with Torres and a decent winger (what we have aren't bad I just meant top notch!) I think we'd be an amazing force.

[Pacman]

To be honest the squad is far better off then when Rafa joined.

Another quality striker,defender and winger and we'd be flying.

[bazza76]

Thank you Mr.UFC

Seriuosly though,if we'd got Heinze and had some worth the tag of Striker up front with Torres and a decent winger (what we have aren't bad I just meant top notch!) I think we'd be an amazing force.

I think so too mate Fine tuning is all that is required.
I understand why Rafa made the decisions he did yesterday. Bruce while at Birmingham always gave us the hardest game out of all the so called lower teams. Gerrard goalscoring rate is better than everyone bar Torres, so why not stretch birmingham (with our wide players) and play gerrard upfront with Torres, which is essentially what he did. I understand that logic, unfortunately for us, it didnt work out in the end.
I also think the team actually did not play as much urgency as we needed.

[johnp]

I think so too mate Fine tuning is all that is required.
I understand why Rafa made the decisions he did yesterday. Bruce while at Birmingham always gave us the hardest game out of all the so called lower teams. Gerrard goalscoring rate is better than everyone bar Torres, so why not stretch birmingham (with our wide players) and play gerrard upfront with Torres, which is essentially what he did. I understand that logic, unfortunately for us, it didnt work out in the end.
I also think the team actually did not play as much urgency as we needed.

I think the tactics yesterday were a good idea. We got the goal, but seemed to take our foot off the gas afterwards.

[KK07]

I think the tactics yesterday were a good idea. We got the goal, but seemed to take our foot off the gas afterwards.

Agreed.

And I don't think you can blame Rafa for that,it's a mental thing with the players.

It looked to me that they thought one would be enough and stopped,they didn't get going again until Wigan scored and by then it was too late to break them down again.

[Dhav]

The squad is far superior than what Houllier left us with. Rafa has worked wonders in taking us forward, to as Angry Dan says, within a position where one or two quality additions will possibly turn us into a title winning side. But what we need now is probably a world class winger, a world class striker, and some defensive cover (plus Mascher permanently). And it worries me that under the yanks we dont have the means to get these players. When Man U and Chelsea are spending £30-40m evey transfer window, and Arsenal with supposedly tonnes of money in reserve should it be needed, while Rafa has to wheel and deal to be able to get players in that he needs, then we'll always be playing catch-up.

[bazza76]

I think the tactics yesterday were a good idea. We got the goal, but seemed to take our foot off the gas afterwards.

It is exactly what happened, and it was nothing to do with tactics, well not to the extent people would have you believe.
What it does mean though is, that Rafa did not prepare them properly mentally.
Which may have Hicks thinking he is right

[Neil Young]

It is exactly what happened, and it was nothing to do with tactics, well not to the extent people would have you believe.
What it does mean though is, that Rafa did not prepare them properly mentally.
Which may have Hicks thinking he is right

I get the impression Hicks never doubts he's right anyway.

[Imy]

Gerrard behind the striker is a mistake, he is never close enough to the forward to provide adequate support, his role is not really a striker but a fire fighter putting out fires on the right left or in the centre of midfield (kuyt does the same when in that role). Neither Gerrard or Kuyt/Crow how that technical cuteness to play this role.

So to add to the two defensive midfielders we have Gerrard or Kuyt who are also in the in the middle of the park leaving one striker.

If Rafa wants to play this tactic of one striker and one playmaker then go and sign a proper one.

[dww]

I get the impression Hicks never doubts he's right anyway.

I sometimes wonder if Hicks and DJS are the same person.

[Neil Young]

I sometimes wonder if Hicks and DJS are the same person.