Smith on the Liverpool situation

[wavydavy]

Fair do's mate

I saw the latter half of his career, and thought he was a thug. The man hated Emlyn hughes and it showed. So much for teamwork. He did score the winning coal in a certain cup final but by analogy - having phil collins play you in a film about your life does not take away from the fact that you were a criminal involved in a venture were someone lost who was merely doing his job their life to your seslfish actions. In fact that is insult to injury.[/QUOTE]

I remember that final. We won against all odds.

[wavydavy]

I grew up in the city, and I'm sorry, but I think he is just jumping on the bandwagon. Some of what he says might be true, but its the lowest common denominator opinion (i.e. it is easy to challenge the rotation policy - a bit harder to point out where it might be right, and where it might be wrong).

As such, he isn't adding anything other than more pressure on the club which is exactly what it doesn't need right now.

Having said that, of course he is entitled to his opinion - I just wish he could be more positive once in a while. He certainly shouldn't be abused for having that opinion - bandwagon or not.

Tommy's been very complimentary this season over certain things. Torres etc. That said there hasn't been that much to be positive about this season. I find the most annoying thing about footy pundits in general is their reluctance to tell it like it is. Tommy Smith gets paid to have an opinion and he voices it honestly. If you don't agree with it. So what. I'd rather that than some sychophantic ex-player (no names-too numerous) papering over the cracks and saying everything will turn out just fine etc.

[poorscousertommy]

Im from Old Swan and i think he should stop criticising and shut the **** up

So am I and I think he is entitled to his own opinion.

Especially when he is pretty much right.

[Fan65]

You bleat on about the Liverpool way being sacrificed on here and then attack a great hero of this club, a cornerstone to Shankly's bastion of invincibility.

Shame on you all

Tommy is allowed to say what he wants because it's his club and he help make it great.
It's his opinion and you don't have to agree with it, but give him the right to say it.
He comes from an era when the first team squad was virtualy 12 players, what would Tommy understand of squads of 30 + players and rotation policy.

I couldn't give a flying **** whether or not he didn't get on with Emlyn because they were both great great players for this club, such gossip should be kept in the gutter.

Smithy shouldn't be spoken of in such derogatory fashion, He was, and is a legend that made this club great and because of his teams efforts you can bask in his teams legacy.

How we could do with a legend like Tommy now.

How low has this forum fallen.

[wavydavy]

You bleat on about the Liverpool way being sacrificed on here and then attack a great hero of this club, a cornerstone to Shankly's bastion of invincibility.

Shame on you all

Tommy is allowed to say what he wants because it's his club and he help make it great.
It's his opinion and you don't have to agree with it, but give him the right to say it.
He comes from an era when the first team squad was virtualy 12 players, what would Tommy understand of squads of 30 + players and rotation policy.

I couldn't give a flying **** whether or not he didn't get on with Emlyn because they were both great great players for this club, such gossip should be kept in the gutter.

Smithy shouldn't be spoken of in such derogatory fashion, He was, and is a legend that made this club great and because of his teams efforts you can bask in his teams legacy.

How we could do with a legend like Tommy now.

How low has this forum fallen.

Well said mate.

[Jacko]

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."

I agree with everything he says apart from the Gerrard selection bit. He's the worst of the ****ing lot with his constant moods, **** performances and his constant bigging up of dirty cockney ******* pals Terry and "Lamps".

As well as Benitez- Pull your socks up Gerrard or **** off! The reason Benitez didn't play him yesterday is because i'm pretty sure he thinks the likes of Gerrard are now too good to be playing in anything other than a cup quater final. Four prizes were up for grabs at the start of this season and we're going to win a big fat NONE of them- barring a russian miracle! Those silver pots are there to win at the start of each season and each one should be treated as serious as each other cause if you don't you end up in this pickle!

At present quite honestly i'm ****ing disgusted at the state of the club. The owners for there deciteful behaviour, the manager for his ****e football, the players for their appalling efforts, the fans for generally being ****e and forgetting everything we stand for and stand against.

This isn't about just moaning cause we've got the chance to "bleat" this is about opening your eyes and waking up to what is essentially a very poorly made cup of Mocha.

The one reviving point is if it all goes tits up with a cup of coffee you can always **** it off and start again. You can't with a football club so it's either we start mending now or it all goes to ****!

[the rev leeroy brown]

I agree with everything he says apart from the Gerrard selection bit. He's the worst of the ****ing lot with his constant moods, **** performances and his constant bigging up of dirty cockney ******* pals Terry and "Lamps".

As well as Benitez- Pull your socks up Gerrard or **** off! The reason Benitez didn't play him yesterday is because i'm pretty sure he thinks the likes of Gerrard are now too good to be playing in anything other than a cup quater final. Four prizes were up for grabs at the start of this season and we're going to win a big fat NONE of them- barring a russian miracle! Those silver pots are there to win at the start of each season and each one should be treated as serious as each other cause if you don't you end up in this pickle!

At present quite honestly i'm ****ing disgusted at the state of the club. The owners for there deciteful behaviour, the manager for his ****e football, the players for their appalling efforts, the fans for generally being ****e and forgetting everything we stand for and stand against.

This isn't about just moaning cause we've got the chance to "bleat" this is about opening your eyes and waking up to what is essentially a very poorly made cup of Mocha.

The one reviving point is if it all goes tits up with a cup of coffee you can always **** it off and start again. You can't with a football club so it's either we start mending now or it all goes to ****!

:whatever: worst of the lot????

[Jacko]

:whatever: worst of the lot????

Ahhh here we go another one of Gerrards messangers from above!

What is it this season or actually for that matter since his wonder strike in Cardiff that has particualry impressed you? His disapearing act in Athens- the fact that he didn't contribute at all till Decemeber last season.

Maybe it was his woeful performance in the derby, his act of invisibility against United at home (again- and Keane wasn't even in the team this time to educate him on HOW to play).

Maybe you'd like to go and think about that or maybe you can turn a blind eye and continue to sing from the Steven Gerrard Hymm sheet!

[the rev leeroy brown]

Ahhh here we go another one of Gerrards messangers from above!

What is it this season or actually for that matter since his wonder strike in Cardiff that has particualry impressed you? His disapearing act in Athens- the fact that he didn't contribute at all till Decemeber last season.

Maybe it was his woeful performance in the derby, his act of invisibility against United at home (again- and Keane wasn't even in the team this time to educate him on HOW to play).

Maybe you'd like to go and think about that or maybe you can turn a blind eye and continue to sing from the Steven Gerrard Hymm sheet!

no, its just i can see that outwith stevie we have not one player who loves the club as much as he does who can turn a game in a split second. the man is phenomenal. without him we would be a far poorer team - no creativity, no man in the middle bursting onto the scene late and no midfielder who consistently for the past 3 years has scored 20 (ish) goals a year. he is having a bad patch but will come through it. plus, he leaves who does he go to....defo one of the other big 4 in the EPL and they get stronger as we get weaker.

wake up and smell the coffee...he is our best player and one who we will be relying on heavily for the next few seasons.

[ronniedrew]

Ahhh here we go another one of Gerrards messangers from above!

What is it this season or actually for that matter since his wonder strike in Cardiff that has particualry impressed you? His disapearing act in Athens- the fact that he didn't contribute at all till Decemeber last season.

Maybe it was his woeful performance in the derby, his act of invisibility against United at home (again- and Keane wasn't even in the team this time to educate him on HOW to play).

Maybe you'd like to go and think about that or maybe you can turn a blind eye and continue to sing from the Steven Gerrard Hymm sheet!

that is very harsh on our best player.

you could harp on about all the goals he has scored this season, last and so on (not bothered checking figures )

this season villa away - last second, against the arse, a few i remember off hand, all the assists for torres etc.

he is quality

[SRR]

Amen.

Look at Arsenal and Man United FFS. Playing each other and left all their big-hitters out. Does that old idiot Smith not realise we have a massive game Tuesday? What if Gerrard had got injured, eh Smith? Eh? What would you have been saying then eh? Knobhead.

This is what really gets on my nerves, you can be sure that should Gerrard have started and got injured ruling him out for the rest of the season Smith would probably have turned round and said "why risk Gerrard in this game when he could have played Lucas". Rafa can't win no matter what he does in situations like this.

[SRR]

no, its just i can see that outwith stevie we have not one player who loves the club as much as he does who can turn a game in a split second. the man is phenomenal. without him we would be a far poorer team - no creativity, no man in the middle bursting onto the scene late and no midfielder who consistently for the past 3 years has scored 20 (ish) goals a year. he is having a bad patch but will come through it. plus, he leaves who does he go to....defo one of the other big 4 in the EPL and they get stronger as we get weaker.

wake up and smell the coffee...he is our best player and one who we will be relying on heavily for the next few seasons.

We did ok when Gerrard was out at the beginning of the season. My opinion is that some times Gerrard can have a negative impact on a game when he is in one of his moods. Being honest how many games has he turned this season?

People always talk about how much he loves the club but what has he done lately in a match to show that? If he was to leave, I would thank him but would not miss him too much (flack jacket on).

[Dhav]

We did ok when Gerrard was out at the beginning of the season. My opinion is that some times Gerrard can have a negative impact on a game when he is in one of his moods. Being honest how many games has he turned this season?

People always talk about how much he loves the club but what has he done lately in a match to show that? If he was to leave, I would thank him but would not miss him too much (flack jacket on).

Yes, I do agree with this.

He is our best player probably, but there are times when he can actually be somewhat of a liability:-

-when he's dropping deep collecting the ball, which in my mind is clearly contrary to instructions he's been given
- when he takes it on himself to do everything; go steaming in and play Hollywood balls
- calling for the ball when there are other better options available etc, and;
-of course the attitude which can have a detrimental affect, especially when he's laying into other players.

[CAD]

"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."

Spot on for me. I don't think he even knows his best formation and his best starting XI. One of my main idiosyncrasies towards Rafa. Always has been.

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

Not so much the point about leaving the above out but more about fielding a team that looked for the most part without a plan.

The switch between Yossi and Babel in the first half. Seemed to confuse us more than Barnsley. The Lucas/Alonso midfield with no real wingers and width. What's the plan? The missing overlaps from the fullbacks. The missing movement fullstop. My main focus with Alonso/lucas at CM would have been movement around them. I doubt it was ever even mentioned for some reason. Certainly looked that way. The overall failure to get to the backline for the crosses. It effects the quality of the crosses big time that we seem to be throwing them in from the middle of the park more than from the backline. I could go on and on.

I just don't see any structure in the way we play. What's worse; I don't see us improving at all. In some ways we looked better under Rafa in 2005/2006. That's the main reason he has to go. When stagnation sets in you have to react. If I owned the club he would be fired now with the information I have access to. It most certainly looks like he lost most of the players.

[Jacko]

no, its just i can see that outwith stevie we have not one player who loves the club as much as he does who can turn a game in a split second. the man is phenomenal. without him we would be a far poorer team - no creativity, no man in the middle bursting onto the scene late and no midfielder who consistently for the past 3 years has scored 20 (ish) goals a year. he is having a bad patch but will come through it. plus, he leaves who does he go to....defo one of the other big 4 in the EPL and they get stronger as we get weaker.

wake up and smell the coffee...he is our best player and one who we will be relying on heavily for the next few seasons.

Wrong! Carragher- he loves the club. Someone who "Loves" the club doesn't flirt outrageously with one of our most hated rivals for TWO straight summers as if it's ok to do as he pleases, when he pleases. Someone who loves the club doesn't parade round the press saying if we don't improve things he'll jump ship. I wish it was that ****ing easy as a fan!

Carra- loves the club
Fowler- Loves the club, never wanted to leave nearly tripped over himself to sign again
Gerrard. . . has a lot to prove, not in terms of ability but as a person and a captain!