I believe it is time for a new manager!

[nbryan1764]

We have been competeing with efc av and pompey for 4th, cuz we aint been competing for the title. We may have a better squad but are we any closer to winning the title? No we are not!

so we are competing with teams that are 11, 14, and 16 points behind us are we? Seriously, WTF are you talking about. We are as far ahead of Everton as we are behind Man United yet we are competing with one and not the other.

Not progressed since Houllier left? We were 30 points behind the champions when he left, 11 this season. Not progressed? Wake up before you miss your first lesson at school on Tuesday, teacher will not be happy.

[Nic83]

Rafa is the best thing to happen to us for years.

That wouldn't be hard.

Rafa could be potentially the best if he stopped over analysing things but if he continues to do this and make basic errors because of it, he won't win us the title unless we pay through the nose for another 2/3 top quality forward players so then he can rotate to his over working brain's content

[MrMichael]

For the last 2 seasons Rafa has failed to get the most out of our squad in the league.

Ok, so, out of interest BigFooty, how many points do you think we should have got in the league this season?

See from where I sit, it looks to me like we'll have got about what we could/should expect to have with this squad, compared to those of the other title challengers.

[G]

With the money Rafa has spent and the way he has performed in the League, in my eyes he has to go. We are no closer to winning the league now at all, if anything the distance is greater than under Houllier.

We need a manager who will not set us out to not lose a game, we should be looking to win and attack every opponent no matter who they are! We are Liverpool ffs!!!

I long for attacking exciting football like we had with Barnes, Beardsley and co.

The man who I would like to take us forward is Gus Hiddink.

We have progressed.We are closer in terms of points this season.We have an infinitely better first 11 and have a much improved squad in general.The reserve's and youths are in much better condition.We are moving forward and we need to stick with Rafa to complete the process.

your only new here but we already have a forum idiot in Marky,don't need another one.

[Sarb]

I think Rafa thinks too much sometimes. He's got some fantastic players...there are times and certain teams against which he should just release em and let them play.

I'm not going to say he should be sacked, but I hope those being strongly linked with us arent the players he buys. Kenwynne Jones....????? I think he makes some bizarre moves in the transfer market

Can see why people question his position

[MrMichael]

I think Rafa thinks too much sometimes. He's got some fantastic players...there are times and certain teams against which he should just release em and let them play.

I'm not going to say he should be sacked, but I hope those being strongly linked with us arent the players he buys. Kenwynne Jones....????? I think he makes some bizarre moves in the transfer market

Can see why people question his position

I see your point.... but it is worth remembering Crouch. 3 years ago the nay-sayers were going ballistic over that signing.... now the same naysayers are using his lack of appearances and possible sale as a stick to beat Rafa with. Every player we sign can't be a Torres or Mascherano, much though we'd like it to be, and someone like Jones has been interesting a lot of the top clubs (not saying I rate him particularly, but some people do). Hell, loads of people on here wanted us to sign Bent rather than Torres last summer.... and indeed we were linked very heavily with Bent before signing Torres virtually out of nowhere.

My point really being that we have to wait and see (a) what the total of the players Rafa actually brings in are like and (b) what bugetary limitations he has to do that with, rather than using potential future transfers as a tool to criticise him.

[Sarb]

I see your point.... but it is worth remembering Crouch. 3 years ago the nay-sayers were going ballistic over that signing.... now the same naysayers are using his lack of appearances and possible sale as a stick to beat Rafa with. Every player we sign can't be a Torres or Mascherano, much though we'd like it to be, and someone like Jones has been interesting a lot of the top clubs (not saying I rate him particularly, but some people do). Hell, loads of people on here wanted us to sign Bent rather than Torres last summer.... and indeed we were linked very heavily with Bent before signing Torres virtually out of nowhere.

My point really being that we have to wait and see (a) what the total of the players Rafa actually brings in are like and (b) what bugetary limitations he has to do that with, rather than using potential future transfers as a tool to criticise him.

True

But do you agree with the fact that the first player we go for this summer is a Central Midfielder? I myself find that totally bizarre. It's not a great way to spend a supposedly limited budget. We need wingers and full backs more than a central midfielder I feel. It's those kinds of decisions that I find strange

[Exiled_red]

I see your point.... but it is worth remembering Crouch. 3 years ago the nay-sayers were going ballistic over that signing.... now the same naysayers are using his lack of appearances and possible sale as a stick to beat Rafa with. Every player we sign can't be a Torres or Mascherano, much though we'd like it to be, and someone like Jones has been interesting a lot of the top clubs (not saying I rate him particularly, but some people do). Hell, loads of people on here wanted us to sign Bent rather than Torres last summer.... and indeed we were linked very heavily with Bent before signing Torres virtually out of nowhere.

My point really being that we have to wait and see (a) what the total of the players Rafa actually brings in are like and (b) what bugetary limitations he has to do that with, rather than using potential future transfers as a tool to criticise him.

I think there are too many people out there who expect every signing to be a big name from a big European club and if we are linked with someone from a struggling premiership club we get the whole "not good enough" or "Benitez is losing the plot" type posts.

The fact is we need to look at players who will improve the squad, in all likelyhood we'll only be playing same formation with one out and out striker (Torres) and Crouch will more than likely be leaving we need someone to replace him, yeah I'd love us to go out and spend £20m+ on Eto'o or Villa but they won't come to sit on the bench. Someone like Jones is probably as good as Crouch and certainly better than Voronin, is likely to sign for us, won't mind spending time on the bench and is likely to cost less freeing money up to spend on positions that need more urgent attention

[Exiled_red]

True

But do you agree with the fact that the first player we go for this summer is a Central Midfielder? I myself find that totally bizarre. It's not a great way to spend a supposedly limited budget. We need wingers and full backs more than a central midfielder I feel. It's those kinds of decisions that I find strange

No one has said that Barry is our number 1 transfer target or that Centre Midfield is the area we're concentrating on, it's just what the press are speculating. We're more than likely working on other deals maybe some have already been sorted

[bigfooty]

Ok, so, out of interest BigFooty, how many points do you think we should have got in the league this season?

See from where I sit, it looks to me like we'll have got about what we could/should expect to have with this squad, compared to those of the other title challengers.

About 9 more than we have.

For example I think we could have gotten more points from at least some of these games:

Reading Away - A truly mind-boggling formation with Crouch employed as a left-winger.
Birmingham Home - Torres only on for the last 30 minutes.
Birmingham Away - Reserve team due to other priorities
Wigan Home - Torres the only recognised striker to start, Crouch and Kuyt sent on with 5 minutes to go after they equalise.
Boro Away - A horrible performance from Voronin.
Villa Home - Unlucky perhaps, but we didn't seek to kill the game off soon enough.

[Jimbob]

What a ****ing whopper,..

[pezzzer]

We have progressed.We are closer in terms of points this season.We have an infinitely better first 11 and have a much improved squad in general.The reserve's and youths are in much better condition.We are moving forward and we need to stick with Rafa to complete the process.

your only new here but we already have a forum idiot in Marky,don't need another one.

[barnes10]

what a **** thread. honestly.

[Johnny]

That wouldn't be hard.

Rafa could be potentially the best if he stopped over analysing things but if he continues to do this and make basic errors because of it, he won't win us the title unless we pay through the nose for another 2/3 top quality forward players so then he can rotate to his over working brain's content

Like Manure and Chelski?????

[andyinswinton]

About 9 more than we have.

For example I think we could have gotten more points from at least some of these games:

Reading Away - A truly mind-boggling formation with Crouch employed as a left-winger.
Birmingham Home - Torres only on for the last 30 minutes.
Birmingham Away - Reserve team due to other priorities
Wigan Home - Torres the only recognised striker to start, Crouch and Kuyt sent on with 5 minutes to go after they equalise.
Boro Away - A horrible performance from Voronin.
Villa Home - Unlucky perhaps, but we didn't seek to kill the game off soon enough.

Those were all silly points dropped but add in the Chelsea home game and perhaps taking a point off United at home and we would be right up there now.