"Respecting" Weaker Teams (Plus A Bit of Panto)

[Elvoz]

The atmosphere has been ****, that's a fact reported in newspapers and on TV (by commentators who are actually attending the games). I won't say they are an 100% accurate reflection of what's happening in games but, add to that the fact that sometimes you really notice that a pin could drop and you could hear it, even on TV.

That was my reflection on how I perceived it. You'd have to understand that it's an honest assessment, not something done just to piss off people going to games.

Carra even went public to vent his frustrations that some fans were acting like ****s, so there must be some truth in it, don't you think?

carra like most fans in the ground understands the feelings and frustration
i cant deny some booed cos they did
a small minority but either way imo they are fickle stupid cunts who tbh are not welcome at anfield

[Guest]

carra like most fans in the ground understands the feelings and frustration
i cant deny some booed cos they did
a small minority but either way imo they are fickle stupid cunts who tbh are not welcome at anfield

Just ignore what I've posted afterwards mate.

[el matador]

all teams should be respected out of decency and courtesy but none should be feared.

Rafa fears teams and their capabilities - thats why he sets out to negate what they do first and then build our play after stopping them.

[Mattshark]

all teams should be respected out of decency and courtesy but none should be feared.

Rafa fears teams and their capabilities - thats why he sets out to negate what they do first and then build our play after stopping them.

I disagree with you there. I think we tried attack and beat the teams we drew at Anfield each time. We have played to beat them.

[Craig_H]

Why didnt Rafa increase our attacking options against Hull, if he went all out to win?

[Mattshark]

Why didnt Rafa increase our attacking options against Hull, if he went all out to win?

Because I don't think he was confident with Keane.
Babel and El Zhar are attacking players though and Lucas is more attacking than Macsh. So you could easily argue that he did.

[Craig_H]

Because I don't think he was confident with Keane.
Babel and El Zhar are attacking players though and Lucas is more attacking than Macsh. So you could easily argue that he did.

Which of those has a history of scoring goals?

If he didnt have confidence in Keane, why have him on the bench?

[Mattshark]

Which of those has a history of scoring goals?

If he didnt have confidence in Keane, why have him on the bench?

What other striking options have we got? Just N'gog who is less experienced.

Babel, though Lucas would have had a goal but for Phil Neville's hand

[rage]

early in the season, we went 3 at the back and chased games. on saturday we settled for a point.

this thread is all about sides of the fence. those that will defend rafa regardless and those that want us to stop making the same mistakes game after game.

oh and as for the atmosphere- i've been going for years, this year there is an increased sense of anxiety and as games go on frustration but thats as much to do with the increase in expectation as it is that rafa's running out of goodwill with the fans.

[Craig_H]

What other striking options have we got? Just N'gog who is less experienced.

Babel, though Lucas would have had a goal but for Phil Neville's hand

Surely if you're seeking a goal, you put on players who are known for scoring or creating goals.

Even if it wasnt for Neville, Lucas would have one goal and wouldnt be known for scoring goals. I honestly dont see a valid argument, if you need goals, you put a striker on. If you have players on the bench, they're there because you have to be prepared to use them.

[Craig_H]

early in the season, we went 3 at the back and chased games. on saturday we settled for a point.

this thread is all about sides of the fence. those that will defend rafa regardless and those that want us to stop making the same mistakes game after game.

oh and as for the atmosphere- i've been going for years, this year there is an increased sense of anxiety and as games go on frustration but thats as much to do with the increase in expectation as it is that rafa's running out of goodwill with the fans.

I dont think we settled for a point. I just think we didnt have the balls to throw the shackles off and go for it.

Rafa's so rigid with his system, he just wouldnt change it no matter what.

[Mattshark]

I dont think we settled for a point. I just think we didnt have the balls to throw the shackles off and go for it.

Rafa's so rigid with his system, he just wouldnt change it no matter what.

That doesn't stand up to the evidence. He clearly will change his system and I feel he buy another goal scorer in January because Torres is our only proven out and out striker. FWIW I also don't think a forward line of Kuyt and Keane or Keane alone is a great one.

[rudedog]

Surely if you're seeking a goal, you put on players who are known for scoring or creating goals.

Even if it wasnt for Neville, Lucas would have one goal and wouldnt be known for scoring goals. I honestly dont see a valid argument, if you need goals, you put a striker on. If you have players on the bench, they're there because you have to be prepared to use them.

Its not as simple as your making out - I don't think Rafa brought Lucas on with the intent of Lucas being a direct goal threat - he said afterwards that he thought that with Mascherano and Alonso both on, we were playing too deep - so he brought on Lucas to try and get the team playing higher up pitch allowing all the attackers to put more pressure on the Hull defence.

Its possible that if he had brought Keane on, he would have ended up occupying the same spaces Gerrard was covering which could have lessened the impact of both players - maybe he thought Lucas would give better balance to our attacking play.

I don't have any major gripes with Rafa's choice of subsitutions, I just think he left them too late.

[Craig_H]

Its not as simple as your making out - I don't think Rafa brought Lucas on with the intent of Lucas being a direct goal threat - he said afterwards that he thought that with Mascherano and Alonso both on, we were playing too deep - so he brought on Lucas to try and get the team playing higher up pitch allowing all the attackers to put more pressure on the Hull defence.

Its possible that if he had brought Keane on, he would have ended up occupying the same spaces Gerrard was covering which could have lessened the impact of both players - maybe he thought Lucas would give better balance to our attacking play.

I don't have any major gripes with Rafa's choice of subsitutions, I just think he left them too late.

I think if it wasnt LFC we were talking about, more or less everyone here would be saying the manager should've put on a striker, when chasing a goal.

The natural instinct of some on here is to defend the manager's every decision, even if they dont agree with it.

[rudedog]

I think if it wasnt LFC we were talking about, more or less everyone here would be saying the manager should've put on a striker, when chasing a goal.

The natural instinct of some on here is to defend the manager's every decision, even if they dont agree with it.

I'm not saying Rafa was right or wrong Craig. I didn't agree with Rafa's decision to leave the subs so late but I'm not 100% convinced that Keane would have made the difference. I also wouldn't have disagreed if Rafa had brought him on. However, seing how his gamble didn't pay off, its the easy option to say that he did the wrong thing.

It would seem that some people think that there is only one viewpoint that is acceptable or correct and thrust their opinions forward at every opportunity. Some as you say, defend Rafa's decisions regardless and others just like to keep an open mind about things asthere are sure to be lots of factors that effect Rafa's decisions which we are completely oblivious to.