Rafa has taken us as far as he can.

[Robster007]

Couldn't agree more.. but why? has the pressure got to some of the lads? or have we been riding our luck all season?

I can't put my finger on it but after the highs of the Newcastle game I thought we would fight them to the death but its not looking promising ATM.

I hate to say it, but it's like that horrible scottish ******* says. We don't have the experience of this situation, and the pressure it brings, in the same way as manyoo. Bizzarely, even chelsea have more experience of this pressure than most of our current squad.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I've had reservations about Rafa's ability to deliver the title for a number of seasons. Foolishly, each close season, the optimism that he can learn from his mistakes has crept in and I've believed he would turn it round.
In the past I've felt our title challenge has suffered due to his fixation with the Champions League, our poor results in the league coinciding with our need to progress in Europe. This season he seemed to have turned this round but I genuinely believe that he thinks he can pick virtually any team and by virtue that the 11 starters are pulling on a red shirt, they can turn over anyone put in front of them whilst keeping the likes of Alonso and Kuyt fresh for the Chelsea game. We all know that's simply not the case in the Premiership and beating Chelsea is no good if you can't put Wigan to the sword.
The team he selected tonight wasn't as bad as some are making out but the subs were baffling. In the past, especially in Europe, you could count on Rafa's team to grind and defend a lead (or draw away from home in Europe) but this now isn't happening for some reason.
It's bandied about that he's restricted by a lack of funds (a view I don't agree with) but if that is the case, maybe, at season's end, the owners need to look for a manager who can nurture youth or get the best out of 'average' players. I think we should take a chance on someone else rather than accept second, third or fourth best each season.

A bit of a mish mash of a post but after tonight's result I'm pretty gutted. I think I've just witnessed the end of our challenge as (and I posted this weeks ago elsewhere) once we lost top spot, we haven't got the players or manager who are mentally strong enough to bounce back.
Rafa will win us cups in Europe until they are coming out of your ears but for me and in the words of Shanks, the league is our bread and butter. It was there for the taking this season. Rafa has handed it to Utd on a plate and depressingly, we all know the significance of them lifting the trophy come May.

[1 True Red]

If MON was boss - we'd have Gareth Barry!

True sooooo true

Goddam, Rafa really fustrates me some times, he really does, and Lucas, he should be playing in the bloody Confrence

[breffniboy]

The writing has been on the wall for weeks. It was always going to take us inevitably slipping off the summit of the league while United finally got their act together and surpassed us, for the majority of fans to wake up and smell the coffee here.

The place for chess and science, and a large degree of caution, is in two-legged European ties. Applying that to the Premiership was never going to work, it's been obvious for Lord knows how long to anyone with even a pea for a brain but Rafa is too bull ignorant to change his ways despite the massive body of evidence.

Stratego was the game he loved to play as a kid. Those tactics and approach don't work in football. I've totally lost faith in him now, mixing the white coat laboratory technician approach with a refusal to modify when it's not working, it's just soul destroying.

[Robster007]

(at your use of words )


This is from the Echo earlier today:

"RAFA Benitez has backed his players to prove they have what it takes to challenge for this season’s biggest prizes when Liverpool take on Wigan tonight."

Why keep resting your best players for Real then?

Chelsea, Real, ****ing West Brom probably at the mo. We need the rub of the green a bit. Luck. Skillful players don't rely on luck. Any player can have a stroke of luck.

Maybe he was saving them from the lung busting, desperation filled pain of the last five minutes when fresh legs have possibly just as much chance of shinning a deflection, resulting from a long ball, into that unfamiliar but somehow pleasing place they call the goal.

[Kenneth]

I've had reservations about Rafa's ability to deliver the title for a number of seasons. Foolishly, each close season, the optimism that he can learn from his mistakes has crept in and I've believed he would turn it round.
In the past I've felt our title challenge has suffered due to his fixation with the Champions League, our poor results in the league coinciding with our need to progress in Europe. This season he seemed to have turned this round but I genuinely believe that he thinks he can pick virtually any team and by virtue that the 11 starters are pulling on a red shirt, they can turn over anyone put in front of them whilst keeping the likes of Alonso and Kuyt fresh for the Chelsea game. We all know that's simply not the case in the Premiership and beating Chelsea is no good if you can't put Wigan to the sword.
The team he selected tonight wasn't as bad as some are making out but the subs were baffling. In the past, especially in Europe, you could count on Rafa's team to grind and defend a lead (or draw away from home in Europe) but this now isn't happening for some reason.
It's bandied about that he's restricted by a lack of funds (a view I don't agree with) but if that is the case, maybe, at season's end, the owners need to look for a manager who can nurture youth or get the best out of 'average' players. I think we should take a chance on someone else rather than accept second, third or fourth best each season.A bit of a mish mash of a post but after tonight's result I'm pretty gutted. I think I've just witnessed the end of our challenge as (and I posted this weeks ago elsewhere) once we lost top spot, we haven't got the players or manager who are mentally strong enough to bounce back.
Rafa will win us cups in Europe until they are coming out of your ears but for me and in the words of Shanks, the league is our bread and butter. It was there for the taking this season. Rafa has handed it to Utd on a plate and depressingly, we all know the significance of them lifting the trophy come May.

And this is the key point for me. Rafa is a pretty safe pair of hands when it comes to staying near the top and qualifying for the CL, which is a must for us. He isn't going to win the league though. Which way do you go? Gamble or stick? Better the devil you know? I just can't decide.

[lucas]

If MON was boss - we'd have Gareth Barry!

But we wouldn't have Torres!

[Winstonio]

Jose

[Icon]

Sammy or Thommo?

Or both?

F&^% knows..........

We're screwed!

[Kenneth]

Can't stand MON. Prefer Jose and would prefer him. Hiddink would be a good move also. If we opt for a change, these 2 are the candidates for me.

[Nic83]

What's the count now of people for and against Rafa? % wise

[Marky]

Can't stand MON. Prefer Jose and would prefer him. Hiddink would be a good move also. If we opt for a change, these 2 are the candidates for me.

You'd sure as **** learn to love him, he's that sort of man.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

And this is the key point for me. Rafa is a pretty safe pair of hands when it comes to staying near the top and qualifying for the CL, which is a must for us. He isn't going to win the league though. Which way do you go? Gamble or stick? Better the devil you know? I just can't decide.

Liverpool Football Club has never been about accepting second best mate.
It is a hard decision and I wouldn't trust the clowns in charge of the club to bring the right man in but there comes a point where you have to take a gamble.
I'm not advocating getting shut of Rafa now by the way. That decision should wait until the end of the season, as should the decision to offer him a new contract. At the beginning of the season, I'm pretty sure we'd have all asked for a prolonged title challenge with a considerable cut in the points deficit between us and the eventual winners and that is still on the cards. But when you've been so close.............. Aaaarrrgh.

And I'm not totally writing off our challenge, there's enough time for more twists and turns but we now go into a game, against Chelsea, that we MUST win. I'd rather Rafa went for the win tonight and if needs be, set the team up for a draw against Chelsea. Given our performances of late, I don't hold out much hope but such is the nature of supporting our beloved club, we'll probably **** the Cockney ****ers and we'll awake Monday with renewed hope.We NEVER do it the easy way.

[Maxiedge]

It's been 2 bad months.

Lets see how things pan out at the end of the season. If we come second, I'd still want Rafa at the helm.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

It's been 2 bad months.

Lets see how things pan out at the end of the season. If we come second, I'd still want Rafa at the helm.

Even if we ended up 2nd and 14 points behind Utd?