Smith on the Liverpool situation

[Sarb]

Anfield legend Smith begins Benitez backlash
Last updated at 10:45am on 17th February 2008


Legendary Liverpool defender Tommy Smith has launched a stinging criticism of Reds boss Rafael Benitez after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley.

Brian Howard's injury-time winner at Anfield dumped Liverpool out of yet another competition, leaving them with just the Champions League - in which they face Inter Milan this week - to contest.

And Smith, who captained Liverpool to the 1971 league and UEFA Cup double, has hit out at Benitez's controversial rotation policy and decision to rest several key players for yesterday's visit of the Coca-Cola Championship side.

Smith said: "In the programme for the game Benitez said cup competitions are always dangerous if you think you can beat teams easily. So why on earth didn't he put a strong team out against Barnsley?"

Smith admitted Reds fans may finally start to run out of patience with the Spanish boss.

"I should imagine so. At the end of the day Bill Shankly used to tell us you're only as good as your last result. How on earth does Benitez think he's going to win stuff if he puts a second-class team out?

"Because Liverpool's squad is not as strong as I think he thought at the beginning of the season. I don't think he's even got a strong first XI.

"How could he leave (Jose) Reina, (Steven) Gerrard and (Javier) Mascherano out?"

Smith admitted the last-16 European tie with Inter is now do-or-die.

"I'm afraid so," he said. "He keeps going on about winning four cups and all that but at the end of the day it's not even entertaining at Anfield at the moment. The crowd keep it going but they booed everybody at the end of the game and quite rightly.

"The first person you put on the team-sheet is Gerrard. How on earth could he sit on the bench for 75 minutes and watch that...then he (Benitez) talks about chances. Well, they've gone. You can't score after the game finishes."

[AFII]

Gerrard should have played from the start, Reina the same.

You can begin to rest key players when the game is won even that we played against a Championship team.

We struggled against H&W and against Luton and Barnsley is a better team than them.

The sad fact is that we don't have enough quality players to rest key players even against a team like Barnsley at home.

Gerrard, Mascherano, Torres, Agger, Reina and probably Lucas are the only players that have played good enough this season.

Five out of that six didn't play from the start and four of the six didn't play at all. In Agger's case because of injury.

Remove them and our team would probably fight to avoid relegation.

[Dhav]

Yeah, just what we need, is this idiot sticking the boot in. Don't we attract enough criticism without Liverpool legends sticking the boot in as well?

[Red_hot]

Yeah, just what we need, is this idiot sticking the boot in. Don't we attract enough criticism without Liverpool legends sticking the boot in as well?

Why should Gerrard have been playing? We should have been able to beat Barnsley without Gerrard playing. We should have beaten them with the side we put out. That's **** all to do with Rafa.

[AFII]

Why should Gerrard have been playing? We should have been able to beat Barnsley without Gerrard playing. We should have beaten them with the side we put out. That's **** all to do with Rafa.

Because Gerrard is one of two players that is a goal threat. When it comes down to the other players then you will just hope that they have a lucky day and score a goal or two.

[Red_hot]

Because Gerrard is one of two players that is a goal threat. When it comes down to the other players then you will just hope that they have a lucky day and score a goal or two.

We had plenty of chances without him on the pitch.

[bigfooty]

We had plenty of chances without him on the pitch.

Meh. I saw Crouch win a lot of headers that we didn't make the most of due to the lack of a Gerrard bursting into the box. I also saw Xabi lumbering up the pitch a few times trying to join in attacks. That's not his natural game but it's what he ended up doing.

[poorscousertommy]

Yeah, just what we need, is this idiot sticking the boot in. Don't we attract enough criticism without Liverpool legends sticking the boot in as well?

This is what I can't get my head round on here.

Surely he is allowed his opinion? I we all fans, ex players included, meant to keep there gob shut and not voice their opinion?

Yes, it may be criticism he is giving but you would not complain if things were going well and he was giving praise.

As soon as anyone says anything bad in the press about the state of our club at the moment everyone gets ****ing moany about it.

The fact is at this current time we are a shambles and that is going to attract the criticism it deserves.

If we beat Inter on Wednesday he will get the praise he deserves and noone will say "stop praising Rafa".

[AFII]

We had plenty of chances without him on the pitch.

We had plenty of chances yes, but the players we played wasn't really a goal threat and that is why we missed all those chances.

We played a team that really don't know how to do this....

Put the ball in the back of the net and we can discuss the options later.

[FatTony]

We had plenty of chances without him on the pitch.

same old story, many chances missed yet he keeps fielding Kuyt....yes he scored yesterday, but teams don't fear him and rightly so and that gives them confidence.

[The_weatherman]

We had plenty of chances without him on the pitch.

Exactly we had over 20 shots ON target and over 30 shots overall, Arsenal, Chelsea and ManU. all rest some players as well, I think we can't pin this one straight at Rafa, the players are letting him down. Having said that, I think he has lost the dressing room (partly due to Gerrard, Crouch and Carra maybe?) and there is no way back..........I am not raising my children as Liverpool supporters end of.

[Red_hot]

Exactly we had over 20 shots ON target and over 30 shots overall, Arsenal, Chelsea and ManU. all rest some players as well, I think we can't pin this one straight at Rafa, the players are letting him down.

Exactly. The point is we should not have needed Gerrard playing to beat the likes of Barnsley. Rafa should have been able to rest him. When he was needed he bought him on but I didn't see him scoring when he did!

[Rafa Shankly]

does this old ****er only opens his mouth to criticize the team these days.

[FatTony]

Exactly. The point is we should not have needed Gerrard playing to beat the likes of Barnsley. Rafa should have been able to rest him. When he was needed he bought him on but I didn't see him scoring when he did!

or is it that fact that some of the players he's brought in are clearly not good enough, and some are past their sell by dates?

[steveheighwayrobbery]

Anfield legend Smith begins Benitez backlash
Last updated at 10:45am on 17th February 2008


Legendary Liverpool defender Tommy Smith has launched a stinging criticism of Reds boss Rafael Benitez after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley.

Brian Howard's injury-time winner at Anfield dumped Liverpool out of yet another competition, leaving them with just the Champions League - in which they face Inter Milan this week - to contest.

And Smith, who captained Liverpool to the 1971 league and UEFA Cup double, has hit out at Benitez's controversial rotation policy and decision to rest several key players for yesterday's visit of the Coca-Cola Championship side.

Smith said: "In the programme for the game Benitez said cup competitions are always dangerous if you think you can beat teams easily. So why on earth didn't he put a strong team out against Barnsley?"

Smith admitted Reds fans may finally start to run out of patience with the Spanish boss.

"I should imagine so. At the end of the day Bill Shankly used to tell us you're only as good as your last result. How on earth does Benitez think he's going to win stuff if he puts a second-class team out?

"Because Liverpool's squad is not as strong as I think he thought at the beginning of the season. I don't think he's even got a strong first XI.

"How could he leave (Jose) Reina, (Steven) Gerrard and (Javier) Mascherano out?"

Smith admitted the last-16 European tie with Inter is now do-or-die.

"I'm afraid so," he said. "He keeps going on about winning four cups and all that but at the end of the day it's not even entertaining at Anfield at the moment. The crowd keep it going but they booed everybody at the end of the game and quite rightly.

"The first person you put on the team-sheet is Gerrard. How on earth could he sit on the bench for 75 minutes and watch that...then he (Benitez) talks about chances. Well, they've gone. You can't score after the game finishes."

ah is this the same mr smith who ended up on disability living allowance because of the problems with his knees. Good mate of colin harvey whose had a hip replacement or two.