Boro V Liverpool - Post match thoughts and rants

[vonk]

If he can't handle the pressure from the media, he shouldn't be in the job. What manager in the premier league doesn't have pressure?? I don't want a manager who's team folds under media pressure. Mourinho used to draw attention to himself to take the pressure off the players.

[Red Chilli]

...sarcasm mate.

Yeah, I know it looks like I was having a pop at you but I was actually backing you up.

I wasn't having a pop at you, I know you were essentially saying the same thing, it just pisses me off the way everyone is coming out with excuses.

He's getting ****e from the media for several reasons:
1) He brought it on himself by publically criticising the owners.
2) His results have dried up and the team are playing ****e
3) The media are looking for the next scapegoat.

1 & 2 are entirely Rafa's responsibility and without 2 you wouldn't have 3.

I'll back Rafa up when he deserves it but I will not keep quiet when people start making up excuses, it's ****ing pathetic.

[Dhav]

I don't know, maybe because he's getting paid a **** load to do his job at one of the biggset clubs in Europe.

Rafa's not some ****ing meek little kitty cat, he's supposed to be one of the best managers in the ****ing game, so I wish everyone would quit with the excuses and say it like it is.

I know what to do, let's sack him and bring in Mourinho, who amid all the speculation that he was going to be sacked last year managed to fail to win the league with the most expensively assembled squad in history.

[rushscored4]

I want a manager with a cardigan, nice comfy slippers and maybe a cap. We played our best football last time we had a manager like that...

[Dhav]

Our first 3 results after the falling out?

3-0, 4-1 and 4-0.

Then came the Reading debacle when Rafa, nobody else, ****ed up. Since then it's been inconsistent all the way.

Yes, the Reading debacle, which preceded the Marseille CL game where it was widely reported that if we'd lost Rafa would lose his job. Hmm

[jonseyboy]

Unfortunately, that run includes Wigan, Middlesbrough, Derby and Luton

I personally am quickly coming to the conclusion that that is indeed the point.

The selection and performances against the teams lower down the leauge has been perticularly "iffy"!!
It's as if the pre-match talk before the last few games has basicly been "Dont worry lads, it's only...... (fill in the blank as you wish!!) And we've come out and played lackluster, uninspired football, and expect to just be given the points!!!!

[Red Chilli]

I know what to do, let's sack him and bring in Mourinho, who amid all the speculation that he was going to be sacked last year managed to fail to win the league with the most expensively assembled squad in history.

What's the point of that post Dhav?
Does that change the reality that we're in?
Does trying to ridicule another manager change where we are in the league? Does it take the responsibility off Rafa.

Does it ****, I'd rather finish where Chavs did last year than where we're going to finish this year if you want an honest opinion.

[Nic83]

Let's just wait for cooper to show up and give us all his fabuous insight to the world of footy and tell us it will be all ok

[Morph]

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.

at least someone with a bit of sense

[Nic83]

I blame ****e players and ****e managerial decisions

[Sir Bob]

we are much more than 1 or 2 quality players away from a title winning team. We need a LB, 2 wide players and 1 striker. Thats alot of players and a fair wad of cash. then they'll need 2 seasons to gel and hey presto a title challenging team is born.

[bigfooty]

Yes, the Reading debacle, which preceded the Marseille CL game where it was widely reported that if we'd lost Rafa would lose his job. Hmm

How do you explain the matches since then? Rafa was able to rally the troops for the Marseille game but not for the others?

If you look at the Marseille game their defence was shocking in that match, Torres ripped them apart with his pace as they defended a high line with slow centre-backs. I mean even Kuyt broke in behind them for a goal! You don't get that kind of kamikaze play in the Premiership.

[rushscored4]

I blame ****e players and ****e managerial decisions

I blame the Tories...

[Dhav]

What's the point of that post Dhav?
Does that change the reality that we're in?
Does trying to ridicule another manager change where we are in the league? Does it take the responsibility off Rafa.

Does it ****, I'd rather finish where Chavs did last year than where we're going to finish this year if you want an honest opinion.

My point is that even Mourinho failed to win the league last season (despite all the advantages afforded to Chelsea like having the most expensive squad in history) under the immense speculation and pressure that he was going to be sacked. They too dropped points needlessly to teams that in previous years they were beating comfortably. Put it down to what you want, but I think that pressure makes a difference.

[Morph]

what i find truly baffling is that we seem to have gone backwards since the signing of torres, which I can't fathom.

The worrying thing is we're going back to the days of relying on owen to score our goals under houllier, and that to me is either a change in tactics or lazy ****ing players who are happy to leave the goalscoring to Torres and Gerrard