Boro V Liverpool - Post match thoughts and rants

[vonk]

To be completely honest, and I'll take some stick in this, but other than bringing in Torres I see no difference in the quality of this side from when Rafa took over. There are some players with potential, but its just that, and then only a couple, Babel and Lucas.

We're no nearer Rafa's Valencia than we were 3 years ago. We have a few "better" players (for all the good its done us), but theres hardly any difference in the quality or effectiveness in the football we play. Its 3 years ago now not 3 months and I just can't see any real improvement.

....but can't you see that if we add two or three world class players our style of play will be magically changed from hoofing it from the defence and playing through the middle all the time to a fast-paced pass and move game, using wingers to get whipped crosses in from the byline and if this doesn't work we will change our play to try something else???

[keniget]

Arbeloa has been one of the more consistent players this season. As bad as it was today, he's allowed to have an off day.

[kemm1]

Torres - Works his socks off even though we were **** but he kept on battling. A couple of years ago Owen/Baros would have just stayed on the last defender and sulked.

I agree, he's also a better all-round player


Benayoun - Predictable every time he gets the ball and goes forward. Always tried to come inside with the ball and ends up just passing the ball a couple of seconds late

I think he's more suited to playing in the 'hole' behind a lone striker like he did in Spain.

Carra/Hyppia - hoooof everytime

Yes

Rafa/Babel - Why not play the lad behind Torres from the get go???

I agree with the way how Rafa is slowly bringing him along, I don't think he's ready for regular first team action as yet, net season for him.

Riise - Really has not been good at all this year. His better years seem to be behind him now.

Riise is a mediocre player with a canon of a left foot, that's always been the case

[Radar]

Congrats to LSU Kemmo

[vonk]

You can't pick one game out and say we're ****e.

Look at the way we played against Besiktas and Derby. We can play good football, we just suffering from a lack of confidence and consistency

So we've played good football this year against Besiktas and Derby.......ok, now I'm depressed.

[Shaggy]

I disagree. When we play well we're very good. We play good football, score great goals.

The problem is it just doesn't happen often enough. We're too inconsistent. We're too easy to get a draw against - if a team wants to shut up shop and nick a point, invariably they can.

We'd be better off winning and losing alternate games than drawing. That's a fact. Draws are **** and unfortunately we draw all the time. The '2' in the games lost column may look pretty good at this stage but in reality it papers over some alarming cracks.

[kurtangle01]

I had to listen on the radio today an it was hard to listen to how the match was going because Aldo would only say how poor we were. He was livid and said that Voronin, Riise, Kuyt etc... should all go.

He laid into Riise sayng that all he does is shoot into row Z and never sees a pass when he gets the ball 20 yards out.

He sounded like he'd had enough.

He did say that we were better after the Torres goal but kept saying that didn't excuse the previous 70 minutes. He kept saying 'If we can do this now after the goal ehy couldn't we do it from the start?' It's a fair point.

[FatTony]

You can't pick one game out and say we're ****e.

Look at the way we played against Besiktas and Derby. We can play good football, we just suffering from a lack of confidence and consistency

I haven't picked one game out and come to this conclusion

39 points so far from 22 games, take your pick. Houllier had a few good games too, you invariably will when you manage a club like LFC due to the fact that we have the resources and tradition to bring in a better standard of player than most teams.

You've picked 2 games there where we looked good. 1 of those is relegated, the other won only one game in their group didn't they and who was that against?

[kemm1]

Congrats to LSU Kemmo

Thanks mate, I stayed up all night watching it.................. well chuffed

[Red Chilli]

I haven't picked one game out and come to this conclusion

39 points so far from 22 games, take your pick. Houllier had a few good games too, you invariably will when you manage a club like LFC due to the fact that we have the resources and tradition to bring in a better standard of player than most teams.

You've picked 2 games there where we looked good. 1 of those is relegated, the other won only one game in their group didn't they and who was that against?

What I mean is we are capable of playing good football but we're not consistent enough and we're not aggressive enough. We sit back too much

[TheRedDragon]

I Blame The Rags and...

The ****ing board for whats going on.

Before all this **** started with Parry, Hicks and Gillett we where a match for any one, then at one point we seemed to really stick together and improve, in what looked like a (Get behind the gaffa) sort of way...

How ever with the constant ****e that is being spouted each and every day about Rafa being sacked etc.... I think that both Rafa and the players are now starting to show signs of frustration and a lack of belief that all is well.

Rafa must be fed up with each bloody interview starting with the same bloody tone, "so Rafa Do you expect to be here in the summer "etc etc... It's pissing me off, so I can not imagine how the Gaffa and the players are feeling.

Gillett and Hicks need to either Put up or SHUT THE **** UP, and back the manager with respect he deserves.

[FatTony]

What I mean is we are capable of playing good football but we're not consistent enough and we're not aggressive enough. We sit back too much

but thats what we were saying when Houllier was in charge and he managed 2nd once.

Like I said, there are one or two potentially good players here, and we have Torres, but, 3 years down the line and we're light years away from his Valencia.

[Red Chilli]

OK, you don't want to hear my opinion so I'll just answer your question with a straight

"Yes".

Nice thread

[vonk]

The ****ing board for whats going on.

Before all this **** started with Parry, Hicks and Gillett we where a match for any one, then at one point we seemed to really stick together and improve, in what looked like a (Get behind the gaffa) sort of way...

How ever with the constant ****e that is being spouted each and every day about Rafa being sacked etc.... I think that both Rafa and the players are now starting to show signs of frustration and a lack of belief that all is well.

Rafa must be fed up with each bloody interview starting with the same bloody tone, "so Rafa Do you expect to be here in the summer "etc etc... It's pissing me off, so I can not imagine how the Gaffa and the players are feeling.

Gillett and Hicks need to either Put up or SHUT THE **** UP, and back the manager with respect he deserves.

The media, the owners, the players, the refs, the tea-lady, the pitch, the fans.......... how can Rafa be expected to do his job.....

[bigfooty]

I think you're giving it too much weight. We've been inconsistent all season, even when unbeaten in the league there were some questionable team selections and poor performances both there and in Europe. Since the falling out happened we've had some cracking results but also some desperately poor ones. It's no different.