Articles post Wigan

[Angry Dan]

G&H need to back Rafa 100% or sell up or else we won't win #19 until a season or two after the new stadium is finished. That means 2012 or 2013.

G&H have not got either the money or the inclination to back Rafa (maybe both) or JM would have been signed by now.

Time to stop stringing people along and be honest.

[FatTony]

To be honest, I always thought this year was too early for us.

Even the owners said that much before this season.

Too early maybe, but I expected us to be within reach, hovering around 5 or 6 points off the top, like proper progress.

Another false dawn and another pathetic attempt at the premiership.

[Whelan5]

The real disappointment for me this year is that we're not even going to be in the title race at 'squeaky bum' time as Ferguson call's it. I'm worried that next year we could be in the title race in April/May but due to lack of experience blow it.

Remember Utd losing it to Leeds and how we all laughed but it stood to them the following year, we don't have that experience yet.

[Catrin]

when you consider the waste of money we have, kuyt, pennant and compare them to Arsenal's Adebayor rosicky or hleb , it makes me cry!!! arsenal infact spent less on them than we did on kuyt, pennant and crouch.

In fairness, Pennant wasn't first choice and I suppose he is proof that sometimes, if you can't get what you want, you might as well not bother with second choices. Kuyt's strong and industrious style would have suggested that he was well suited to the EPL, even if he wasn't particularly quick. Adebayor took time to settle in and Arsenal are now seeing the benefit of giving him that time. Initially, he had seemed quite slow and as it happens, I think he is just having a bit of a purple patch. I'm sure that the goal he scored the other night was a fluke and he couldn't do it again if he lived to be a hundred.

Hleb.....fair enough, no doubt Wenger bought well in his case and as for Rosicky....inconsistent surely.

[Catrin]

That's the comparison, it's so embarrasing I don't even want to think about it.
Throw in Van Persie for the peanuts he cost as well!

Wenger also paid £18m for Reyes though, Maureen paid £30m for Shevchenko, Slur Alex paid £28m (I think) for Veron. For every bargain superstar there is an overpriced flop.

[AFII]

Rafa looks doomed

Rafa Benitez knows he is on borrowed time at Liverpool as his position comes under intense pressure.

Although he should survive until the summer, the desperation surrounding the club after the 1-1 draw against Wigan - the sixth time out of their last 11 Premier League games they have failed to win - indicates how isolated the Spaniard is becoming.

It is a failing recognised yesterday by Reds defender Steve Finnan.

He said: "If you want to challenge for the title then you need to be winning games like this.

"We still hope we can win it, but I suppose we say that every season. We have slipped up at home again, and now it is two games in succession that we have given points away." Significantly, Bayern Munich yesterday announced that manager Ottmar Hitzfeld will depart in the summer to coach the Switzerland national side. Benitez is the German giants' first choice as Hitzfeld's replacement.

Six weeks ago such a move would have seemed unlikely but now, as the Merseyside club again stand depressingly distant from the race for the title, it is clear doubts are creeping in about the Spaniard's ability to turn the Reds into champions.

The American owners of Anfield are already unimpressed with his attitude towards them, and what they see as carping insubordination with his direct criticisms of how the club is run.

But it is what they think of the way Benitez influences his side that is perhaps more significant for the manager's long-term employment prospects. It was no coincidence co-owner Tom Hicks criticised Benitez when he said Liverpool looked a side who lacked the belief they could win when they played Manchester United earlier this month.

Benitez admits the current team do not have the quality to match the likes of United, Arsenal and Chelsea and conceded only two weeks ago that while his side have two players of real class, their rivals have five or six.

He was hoping to be given money in the transfer window to address that, but now - it seems - that will not happen.

The owners question the wisdom of giving money to spend to a boss who may not be there in the summer.

Benitez will argue that he has built the strongest squad Liverpool have had in years and in Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva one that contains talented youngsters who represent the future.

Set against that, though, is the performance of the team. Liverpool have not moved on significantly in three-and-a-half years under Benitez, despite the money he has spent. And once again their title challenge looks effectively over by Christmas. The Wigan game was another example of his eccentric team selections, which often appear to backfire.

He chose to play Torres up front on his own, supported by two wingers who are recognised goalscorers.

Time is running out, and Benitez knows it. He knows, too, that perhaps the only way of saving himself now is another strong run in the Champions League. Even that, though, may not guarantee he remains in place at Anfield next season.

And should Benitez win the European Cup again, Bayern will not be the only club to come calling.

THE SEASON SO FAR

League: Currently fifth, 12 points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

Cups: Lost to Chelsea in Carling Cup quarter-final. Third round FA Cup tie at Luton on Sunday

Europe: Face Inter Milan in Champions League quarter-final. Currently out of Champions League qualifying places

Current Form: DdwWLWw - fifth best form in the Premier League

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...9520-20274280/