In defence of Rafa.....gulp...

[Reece]

We produced the most successful campaign and our attempts at winning it were obviously better than anyone else's.

That's not the same as being the 'best team in europe' though IMO.

**** me you really are pedantic.

[-V-]

You seriously think every team that wins a cup competition is the best team in that competition?

Wouldnt that make betting so much easier?

Well how else do you judge who the best is?

Ofcourse its the champions. You have to beat the cream of europe to lift the trophy. You cant judge a team of losers to be the best because you like their style of football

[Manofthebog]

Well how else do you judge who the best is?

Ofcourse its the champions. You have to beat the cream of europe to lift the trophy. You cant judge a team of losers to be the best because you like their style of football

This is hard work, isn't it.

[Craig_H]

Well how else do you judge who the best is?

Ofcourse its the champions. You have to beat the cream of europe to lift the trophy. You cant judge a team of losers to be the best because you like their style of football

It's nothing to do with style of football, i'm just saying the best team dont always win a CUP COMPETITION.

Unless Pompey/Cardiff are now suddenly 'the best'...

[Manofthebog]

It's nothing to do with style of football, i'm just saying the best team dont always win a CUP COMPETITION.

Unless Pompey/Cardiff are now suddenly 'the best'...

As Roy Castle (RIP), once sang.............."to be the best, you've got to beat the best".

(slightly adapted, sorry Roy)

[Craig_H]

Yawn...whatever.

[Manofthebog]

as you say, whatever, I've got a life to lead, so.................carry on.

[Maxiedge]

Well how else do you judge who the best is?

Ofcourse its the champions. You have to beat the cream of europe to lift the trophy. You cant judge a team of losers to be the best because you like their style of football

I slightly disagree in the sense that (Liverpool) beating Inter, Arsenal, Chelsea, then Man U is more draining and a harder task than (Chelsea) beating Olympiakos, Fenerbache, Liverpool then Man U. Or is that just bitter?

[Snigger]

As a benchmark of how you compare a club to the best in Europe the Premiership is hopeless. The European cup however is not, over the past 3 years we have played and beaten the following in the knock out stages:

Bayer Leverkusen
Juventus
Chelsea X2
AC Milan
Barcalona
PSV Eindhoven
Inter
Arsenal

For me that is not a bad barometer for how we compare to European clubs.

[rage]

i'd rather have beaten reading away, birmingham lets see chelsea and utd, spurs and a whole host of other draws that cost us every year in the league.

its time we competed and that is up to rafa!

[Skillz]

As a benchmark of how you compare a club to the best in Europe the Premiership is hopeless. The European cup however is not, over the past 3 years we have played and beaten the following in the knock out stages:

Bayer Leverkusen
Juventus
Chelsea X2
AC Milan
Barcalona
PSV Eindhoven
Inter
Arsenal

For me that is not a bad barometer for how we compare to European clubs.

Only lost in 2 legged tie to Benfica and now Chelsea (beaten twice). Beaten Milan and lost to them in an final.

It's been a ride, for sure.

[Woobus]

Yup since Rafa has taken charge we have managed 2 finals winning one and a semi final. Only Milan has managed to do as well.

[Neil Young]

I cant even find the original post

As i've said plenty of times, rafa will make mistakes, like anyone. He IS too cautious in my opinion, sometimes it'll be what wins you something, other times it costs you. And as i also said, you take him as he is, or not at all.

Seems like you either pretend he gets everything right, or you're 'slating'/'blaming' him for everything

Just click on my post that I quoted then you'll find the two posts you made that flatly contradict each other.

I don't actually mind a little inconsistency in argument - I just would like you to recognise you're capable of it too so you might cut others slack when they do it in future.

As for the rest of what you just said, you're confusing me with some other people you've argued with.

I can understand it must be difficult keeping track of all the arguments you've got going on though.

[barnes10]

DJ. Its not up to rafa that we go for the cl and risk losing points in the prem.

WE NEED TO WIN THE MONEY. we have no sugardaddy or big business backing us injecting capital.

this means that to make sure we progress, rafa makes sure the first 11 is rested, fit and raring to go. to achieve this, he plays squad players in the league. our turning point in the league this season was when it looked like we were heading out of the CL.

give rafa the money to concentrate on the premiership - i.e. don't have him need to win it from the CL, and he'll get us much closer.

ffs in spite of the above, we've closed 20 points on top spot in a league that gets stronger and where the top 2 spend the same as us on fewer players and from a strong base.

man u didnt have an abramovitch but they've had a great business backing a top manager for over 20 years. we still only have the latter and we are progressing. fergie won his title 7 years in and when the top teams were in decline. if the top 3 were in decline, we'd have the title shortly. but they're not, they're getting stronger each year.

give rafa time and money to do it or get realistic.

I am convinced there is no better manager out there for us than rafa. our problems lie elsewhere. we have the best manager but the worst backing for him. simple as that.

[Sarb]

Has AFII really quit by the way?