Sack Him..... or don't

[5aq1b]

No support from anyone in the club from Parry no words,the Yanks just cristism, our captain not a word of support from him.

Well said

I'm sure Rafa already knows this, but we need to be behind him every single game. We can't give the Yanks an excuse for papping out Rafa. If we back him every game, then at some point, they are gonna HAVE to back one of the best young managers in world football.

Sacking Rafa = No Logic
Vast amount of youngster brought in, who are top of their reserve league.
Majority of Houllier players shipped out
Large SPanish contingent brought in, meaning new manager would need to bring in his own, and most likely only be allowing to buy after selling, which would take YEARS.
Rafa has come to stay, and stay for years judging by his transfers, strategy and comments.

I ****in love Rafa for everything he has done for the club, for the way he conducts himself in interviews (shows that he's LFC class), and for giving me the opportunity to experience TWO ****in European Cup Finals, something that 4 years ago, we would never have imagined!!

Give him his contract extension now for ****sake.

[Morph]

Houllier bought some rubbish players but so has benitez. Some of his players just werent liverpool standard (although im not sure what that is any more).

its just not happening for benitez and it would take a monumental turn around in our form for him to be retained next season.

Just out of interest morph would you want to keep benitez or would you like to see someone else give the reins. I have my preference but mentioning his name is akin to heresy in these parts.

to be honest mate i really don't know, i always thought he should have 5 years so i guess i'll stick with that, as long as we don't fall out the euro spots and **** the other comps up royally, lets see what he buys in the summer what we do next season, if that still doesn't bring a challenge then he should go imo

[alunevans]

that was better, i agree with most of it although i want rafa to be able to sign a few top quality wingers and a second striker, i know are results are **** at the moment, but i believe we are 2-3 players from being able to do it (2 players if babel can be consistent in either a winger or second strikers role)

he'd have to play him first. torres' partner is always kuyt or voronin. we have two better forwards who never get to play sat on the bench (or maybe not even on the bench).

this is why focussing on money misses the point, as important as spending power is.

[kopdan]

I can see both ends of the arguments that Liverpool FC are creating right now.

My own view is that this season, we should have really gone for the title. We spent well in the transfer market..especially Torres. We brought in some better attacking players than what we had but to be honest I expected a little more.

When the takeover happened, perhaps I got carried away with what spending we potential could do. Names .big names were talked about. The signing of Torres was huge for LFC but when you look at it closely, did the new owners end up putting their hand in their pockets? I dont think they did.

So I was a little upset at the names coming in..because to be honest, I expected bigger names.

Now I'm happy with who we got but I cant help thinking that we missed out on some bigger names which maybe could have contributed to us being higher in the league and really challenging.

Aside from the transfers, I think Rafa has got it wrong this year on the pitch. I have expected Rafa to justify his leaving of Torres out by now, some saying maybe he kept him under wraps for a bit while he became accustomed to the league...and then overnight, he has suddenly become a Prem veteran. Deep down, I think Torres has always been ready and Rafa was trying to be clever with his rotation policy. It backfired plain and simple.

One thing Rafa is quick to do is get rid of underachievers. We have seen Morientes and others suffer the chop ..hopefully we'll see the same with some others in the summer. Kuyt has been woeful, truly woeful. He has to go. He needs to sell Crouch..not because I dont rate him but whats the point of him being here if he's not going to play

Its also time to have a chat with the players that like to hoof it. Sami, Jamie..stop it. We have players infront of you who can do a job, use them.

I've jabbered enough now, it probably doesnt fit well in a post right now but I wanted to speak on the matter.

Liverpool as a club have underachieved this season. Not just the players, but the manager, the owners and the fans.

I am hoping that this year will end better, maybe a cup win and a good finish to the league and that next summer, we actually make inroads into the signing of much better players and competing with the other 3 for the top position. This summer promised so much but its not all Rafa but for ****s sake Benitez, stop thinking about your own position right now and get that team back where it should be. Thats the only way to stop the doubters, the press and the owners in thinking you are the wrong man for the job.

[Darth Marty]

the team needs a overhaul, pointless saying we cant do it in one foul swoop as it would ruin a whole season, because whole seasons are being ruined. I say lose all the mediocrity and buy some class.

keep the following as 1st teamers - Pepe, Carra, Agger, Stevie (even though I have been thinking sell him when hes still worth ****loads), Masch, Babel,Torres.

keep the following as back up if they would accept that roll - Finnan, Aurelio, Crouch, Lucas, Skertl, Itandje.

Sell the rest (not the youngsters obviously).

We need 4 first teamers and half a dozen already good but potentially great prospects as backup, along with our youngsters that would still give us a healthy squad and whilst drastic tell me why it cant be done?
Its not as if our current methods are succesful is it.

[ronan]

"We're disappointed because we started well and had a good chance with Gerrard, but after that we weren't controlling things", said Rafa.

"The second half was different because we were attacking and creating chances to score. The attitude of the players was really good and you can see that they were trying to win, but when you're trying to close the gap you have to be disappointed."

is what he said.

[Bob]

I can see both ends of the arguments that Liverpool FC are creating right now.

My own view is that this season, we should have really gone for the title. We spent well in the transfer market..especially Torres. We brought in some better attacking players than what we had but to be honest I expected a little more.

When the takeover happened, perhaps I got carried away with what spending we potential could do. Names .big names were talked about. The signing of Torres was huge for LFC but when you look at it closely, did the new owners end up putting their hand in their pockets? I dont think they did.

So I was a little upset at the names coming in..because to be honest, I expected bigger names.

Now I'm happy with who we got but I cant help thinking that we missed out on some bigger names which maybe could have contributed to us being higher in the league and really challenging.

Aside from the transfers, I think Rafa has got it wrong this year on the pitch. I have expected Rafa to justify his leaving of Torres out by now, some saying maybe he kept him under wraps for a bit while he became accustomed to the league...and then overnight, he has suddenly become a Prem veteran. Deep down, I think Torres has always been ready and Rafa was trying to be clever with his rotation policy. It backfired plain and simple.

One thing Rafa is quick to do is get rid of underachievers. We have seen Morientes and others suffer the chop ..hopefully we'll see the same with some others in the summer. Kuyt has been woeful, truly woeful. He has to go. He needs to sell Crouch..not because I dont rate him but whats the point of him being here if he's not going to play

Its also time to have a chat with the players that like to hoof it. Sami, Jamie..stop it. We have players infront of you who can do a job, use them.

I've jabbered enough now, it probably doesnt fit well in a post right now but I wanted to speak on the matter.

Liverpool as a club have underachieved this season. Not just the players, but the manager, the owners and the fans.

I am hoping that this year will end better, maybe a cup win and a good finish to the league and that next summer, we actually make inroads into the signing of much better players and competing with the other 3 for the top position. This summer promised so much but its not all Rafa but for ****s sake Benitez, stop thinking about your own position right now and get that team back where it should be. Thats the only way to stop the doubters, the press and the owners in thinking you are the wrong man for the job.

Keep the one liners coming.

[Darkon]

Form slipped when Agger got injured, once the defence is back to the solid wall it was with him we'll be more attack minded from the off,Sami is now a weakness teams target for pace, Keep Finnan fit too, Skirtle will get his chance to impress soon. We need some quality additions though aswell, big money signings i mean, add them to what we have & we're a match for the 3.

Our problem is not defence, we still have the second best record in PL, only man utd has let in fewer goals - and this is with agger being away for most part of the season. Our problem lies where it has for a long time, we don't create enough chances, and when we do we only have Torres who can score!

We really need another leathal striker, and if we are to keep playing the way we do right now, we need a creative midfielder who can score and create chances. Right now we have to many defensive minded midfielders, and not good enough wingers - get Diego from Bremen or something of the kind...

[Steve101]

The players are clearly low on cofidence and Rafa seems to think giving the performance a public slating on tv will not help. What's wrong with that? Rafa's priority is to do what is in the best interests for the team, not come out with comments that the fans will respect.

Spot on mate. Dont you just love the internet when we're having a bad time?

[alunevans]

"We're disappointed because we started well and had a good chance with Gerrard, but after that we weren't controlling things", said Rafa.

"The second half was different because we were attacking and creating chances to score. The attitude of the players was really good and you can see that they were trying to win, but when you're trying to close the gap you have to be disappointed."

is what he said.

I didn't see the game but the posts from those watching at the time were that the attitude of the players was appalling. Can anyone who went comment on the players' attitude?

[Morph]

Our problem is not defence

thats where your wrong tho, and i'm going to make a thread on this in a moment

[Joe King]

Ooo, I can't wait

[Armchairkopite]

Our problem is not defence, we still have the second best record in PL, only man utd has let in fewer goals - and this is with agger being away for most part of the season. Our problem lies where it has for a long time, we don't create enough chances, and when we do we only have Torres who can score!

We really need another leathal striker, and if we are to keep playing the way we do right now, we need a creative midfielder who can score and create chances. Right now we have to many defensive minded midfielders, and not good enough wingers - get Diego from Bremen or something of the kind...

One of the main reasons we don't create enough going forward is a lack of bodies this is because our midfield is more defensively minded because its trying to protect a weakened back four, of which its doing a good job its just that we can't attack as a proper unit because of it.

You go on to say we dont create enough chances yet you want a leathel striker, maybe our current lot arent so bad and are just lacking service from the wings, is Diego a winger i thought he played off the front man?

[paulcooper4]

Keep the one liners coming.

[bazza76]

Really backtracking like a cunt now.

Don't want him sacked.

****ing gutted at the result and performance.

My reaction was that of a fairweather cunt.

Am glad you changed your mind mate.