Question for those who dont want rafa gone...

[Johnny]

I think motivation has been a problem this season. You could maybe say it wasnt an issue today, but it has been in other games.

You could be mistaking motivation for confidence.

[mersey86]

Oh please piss off, whos fault is it then!!

sorry Im pissed!! but rafa is useless, and the sooner he goes the better!!

When you reach manhood, please feel free to post again.

[Johnny]

When you reach manhood, please feel free to post again.

[Joe Le Toff]

Regarding the point made about motivation, you have to ask how do you motivate a dressing room of multi-millionaires?
I would imagine it isnt the easiest thing in the world, but Ferguson and Wenger manage to do it week in week out, Mourinho did it as well, imo its what separates the great managers from the good ones at the top level, and I dont believe its a quality Rafa possesses.

Again imo, the reason why Ferguson and Wenger have managed to do it is they let their sides go out and play flowing football to their strengths, rather than the mechanical one-dimensional approach that Rafa adopts far too often. I dont deny their keeper had a blinder yesterday, but Arsenal or the mancs would have ripped them apart with their style of football and would have had it won by half-time.

In what has become a shambles of a season, on the field as well as off, Rafa seems to me to be doomed and he knows it. It pains me to say it, but i think Inter are going to give us a hiding. Im just hoping that Rafa and the team can muster up some of that spirit and doggedness that has carried us so well in the CL since he's been here.

[Joe Le Toff]

I think the turning point in our season was the game against Reading where Rafa decided to throw in the towel with 30 mins to go and focus on the Marseille game. At that time we were seven points off the top and with a game in hand. Ten or so games after, we are 19 points off the top and still with a game in hand. Its mind boggling decisions like that which lose the players belief in the manager.

For me, the fans are remembering Istanbul to much. At half time, it was about damage limitation. The team couldn't have done more poorly. Even in that game, he decided to play Kewell instead of Hamann. His bizarreness bewilders a lot of people. Is he the sort of manager who likes to work on surprises? Does he like to be the jack in the box manager who will think that certain players and systems won't be suspected because they don't know what he is about to do? Rotation easily fits into this catagory. It probably is one of the reasons why he does decide to use it. I, for one moment, don't buy into the reason of fitness. I mean, these are young lads in their 20s, how unfit are they then?

For me, I will remember Rafa Benitez as a manager who is very reactive instead of pro-active. He doesn't take the game to others, instead he relies on his opposition to make a move and then he will alter his team and tactics. Is that going to win titles especially the elusive Premiership? I think Benitez led to his own downfall. At times, he doesn't let the team play with the freedom and express themselves in an attacking fashion. Teams like Wigan, Birmingham don't need close extreme tactical supervision. All the players need is a talk-to at the start and something along the lines, 'Lets kick their arses' At times, it seems Benitez likes to be in control of his side with a remote control and some players can play under strict regulation, some don't and ultimately feel the pressure. Fergie may not be a tactician but what you can say is that he allows his team to express themselves freely on the pitch and the team are reaping the benefits. Wenger likewise although he has blended a style of his scientific analysis of the game with pure artistry.

I also agree with a lot of posters on here who have commented on the fact that the players don't look like having that burning desire to play for Liverpool anymore. That desire to win. It may coincide with the departure of Pako Ayestaran. He seemed like the man who was the link between the players and the manager. The man whose door was always open to listen to problems. I just feel at this moment, Rafa isn't the sort of person you could approach if you are a player. He seems to have that Italian mentality of isolating himself away from the players, which is all good but if you don't have a representative who can speak on behalf for both sides, then there is going to be a breakdown in communication thus leading Liverpool in the situation it is in right now.

Today was one of the most lacklustre performances I have seen since Houllier left the club. At the moment, there is a sense of de ja vu. Poor performances, heavy reliance of big names, lack of cohesion, fans not on the same page are all bad signs for a manager. As Liverpool fans, if they are to lose, then they want to die fighting. Something with passion, heart, good football and possibly the ability to say we were unlucky to lose however to lose at home to Barnsley without creating too many clear cut chances, well, you are asking for trouble.

Rafa needs to get this team jeered up. The only way is up from that performance. Against Inter, Liverpool as a whole needs to be together and produce a magical European night. It might sound cliche under Rafa Benitez, but it gives a lot of Liverpool fans something to look forward to in the week. Maybe that was the problem today. The fact that the players weren't fully concentrated on Barnsley and were looking ahead to the game against Inter.

If Rafa does cock this up, I would consider his contract to be well and over come the end of the season. Fourth place is nothing to be proud of and a season of if, whats and maybes will be well and truly wanting to be forgotten by players, coaches and most of all the fans.

Totaaly agree

[Ron_Mexico]

Regarding the point made about motivation, you have to ask how do you motivate a dressing room of multi-millionaires?
I would imagine it isnt the easiest thing in the world, but Ferguson and Wenger manage to do it week in week out, Mourinho did it as well, imo its what separates the great managers from the good ones at the top level, and I dont believe its a quality Rafa possesses.

Again imo, the reason why Ferguson and Wenger have managed to do it is they let their sides go out and play flowing football to their strengths, rather than the mechanical one-dimensional approach that Rafa adopts far too often. I dont deny their keeper had a blinder yesterday, but Arsenal or the mancs would have ripped them apart with their style of football and would have had it won by half-time.

arsenal and man utd have better strikers and scoring midfielders who are more clinical than our lot. we created chances a plenty but couldn't find the quality to put them away. i think it's become a mental thing with our team because it keeps happening over and over again. confidence has been diminishing for awhile and there are many many factors as to why.

there's no simple solution and what scares me is that things are going to get even crazier in the summer. rafa looks certain to leave, the ownership situation continues to hinder development of the club, we will be unable to attract top players if we don't get our manager and ownership sorted. who knows how long that will take- the club could be a total shambles going into next season

but here's hoping the lads rally around their manager who's had a nightmare of a season on and off the pitch, make a run for the CL, and finish 4th, DIC buys the club and funds many delicious transfers

[Harv]

We stopped doing nicely after we beat derby mate. I dont think anything had really kicked off upstairs by then.

Thats the week Paco left

[Skillz]

Thats the week Paco left

Important I agree, moreso because of the way it has affected Rafa rather than players.

Even more importantly though it was the week Agger and Alonso got injured

[SRR]

Oh please piss off, whos fault is it then!!

sorry Im pissed!! but rafa is useless, and the sooner he goes the better!!

our club is laughing stock!! jesus how the **** can you defend him!!????

Why should I piss off? Do you not like the fact that I have asked the question why should Rafa be blamed for our short comings this season? Why shouldn't I defend him? It's very easy to sit there behind your keyboard and blame the manager but ultimately it is 11 players out on the pitch not giving it 100% that is a big cause of our problems. There are too many fans that only focus on the negatives and are always looking for quick immediate responses, unless you are Chelsea that does not happen. How long did it take Utd under Ferguson? Now look at Utd. Wenger had a decent team when he took over and has been given time to make it better.

Just because I defend Rafa does not mean I don't question his tactics. Am I dissapointed with how this season has ended up? Yes I am. Do I think it is all Rafa's fault? No I don't, yes he has made some strange decisions but there has also been a lot of underperforming players who just don't give a ****.

I may be alone on this but what Rafa is doing in the bigger picture is the right step for this club and is along the lines of what Wenger has done. From the youth set up to the reserves it has all been changed and there are some promising youngsters in those teams. Sacking him now/end of the season may not have the desired effect you and others are hoping for in fact it could have the opposite. It is now up to the core players of our first team to stand up and be counted and give 100% instead of the moody negative efforts we are seeing.

And the reason our club is a laughing stock is because of our owners and their classless acts not Rafa. Although you will probably disagree but that is a whole different arguement.

[Jimbob]

Sentimentaly i dont want Rafa gone, But a line has to be drawn somewhere with regards to his strange and often negative tactics. Bizarre lineups, And strange substitutions.

If he was to cut all these out then i would be willing to give him more time, But he wont.

[DomL]

I would like Rafa to stay because i feel hes first team could really be a team t challenge and do some great things.

If we look at his first team that i feel would be the best in terms of Age and ability.

This team would be without any new signings

------------------Reina------
--Arebloa---Skrtel---Agger---Insua
-------------------Masch
--------------Gerrard--Lucas
------Torres----Kuyt/Nemmeth---Babel

Now im not saying that will be the team but it could be, we could also use a 442 system if a left winger and possibly left back were braught.

Shorely he should be allowed to show his vission of how he wants liverpool to play and look.

Or shall he leave and the next manager take all his hard work and take us to that extra step, personally i would be gutted for Rafa if that has happend.

But i guess thats football.

If rafa does leave we really do have to look at we has had to do for this club from top to bottom.

We have to look at the team and the players he would hopefully leave us with because many could follow.

Personally DIC would have to be very quite in how they will look at managers becaue if it gets out again the press could have a field day and how would us fans feel.

[Jimbob]

But he wouldnt play that team every week, Or slight variations of it. I think we would be in a better place right now if he would keep it that simple.

[alunevans]

he has given us much more than that night mate,this season excluded he has turned us into contenders.

really? do you genuinely think we are contenders? on what basis? what is the latest date where we have genuinely been still in the league title race? at what point have we ever finished in the top 2?

there is much about the place that is better for rafa having been in charge these last few years, but turned us into contenders?? not a bit of it.

[Jimbob]

Never been title contenders, not really. I agree he has given us a hell of a lot, But not that.

[rage]

there is not a chance in hell that rafa will be given another season short of winning the champions league and even then i think it will be unlikely.

i've come to realise that too many rafa apologists will still defend rafa's every decision by lowering our expectations, we don't have a god given right blah blah blah, he hasn't had the money blah blah blah, it took Ferguson 4 years before he won something blah blah blah it's the players fault.... oh and i've even heard some blame the referee, i'm now just waiting for someone to blame the colour of our strip.

we are liverpool even without winning the title in the living memory of anyone practically under 21 our expectations are still the same. In the 4 seasons Rafa has had we have not competed once. I don't know about god given rights but we should be competing.

If only Rafa had the money, well guess what he's brought in players worth close to 70 million this season. Of Houllier's old first team squad only Carra, Hypia, Finnan, Riise, Gerrard and Kewell remain. He's had plenty of money he just hasn't spent it well.

and for those ill informed fans who compare Rafa to Ferguson, - Ferguson inherited a team that just survived relegation, Rafa inherited a team that finished 4th.

Time to face facts, whilst many would like Rafa gone now he will most certainly gone come the summer. In the English Premiership he has been a FAILURE.