Past weekends football - Liverpool - City / Utd - Blackburn

[Craig_H]

I realised on Saturday evening when Rafael pulled Pedersen back and no penalty was given or red card that there wasn't a chance we would win the league this season. Seriously what do teams have to do to get a result at OT. Webb should face some sort of disciplinary action over his performance.

Our inability to win more than half our home games is what's cost us our title bid, not Howard Webb.

[kingfunk]

Our inability to win more than half our home games is what's cost us our title bid, not Howard Webb.

Is the right answer.

[Joe King]

Let me just make it clear mate - i dont put the entire blame on rafa. There's a lot of **** that's going on and that makes things harder. Likewise, i also appreciate that our frustrations are coming from the fact that we feel we should be making a proper sustained title challenge and recognise that Rafa is the man who has raised our expectations to that level and he deserves credit for that.

The biggest thing for me though, is two-fold and it is this.

Whatever problems there are with the team, be it coaching methods, backroom staff, tactics, team selection, substitutions etc - they ALL ultimately go back to the manager. With all of those things, the buck stops with the manager.

Secondly, and crucially - i dont think we're far off it with rafa. In fact, i think there's genuinely only one or two things which need tweaking, in order for us to win the title. They're small things, but at the very top, the most tiny factors make a huge difference and in our case, they're costing us the title IMO. The biggest problem is that Rafa simply wont tweak these things. He has 150% faith in everything he does which is generally a good thing. But when you have a couple of tweaks that stop you achieving the ultimate goal, as i think is the case, then you need to make the changes. And i have seen no real evidence that Rafa can/will make those changes.

For those reasons, i dont think he'll ever win us the PL title and considering that is our aim, i dont see the point in sticking with someone who (IMO) will never take us there. If there was evidence to show that Rafa WILL tweak things, i'd be delighted with him staying in the job long term. But last year, home draws killed our title challenge and this year, we've dropped even MORE home points in the same way. The one thing we needed to improve upon from last season, we've gone backwards with. I dont see it changing, sadly.

To be honest, it's not even about winning the title. It's about producing the best possible results and outcome from what you have to work with - and Rafa isnt doing that, IMO.

I think our squad, if managed properly and indeed with a touch of luck, would win the title. But not under Rafa. He's done a brilliant job in making us contenders, but i dont think he has what it takes to go that one extra step.

Great post.

[Mattshark]

I think our squad, if managed properly and indeed with a touch of luck, would win the title. But not under Rafa. He's done a brilliant job in making us contenders, but i dont think he has what it takes to go that one extra step.

And you say this after the first time we have been in a position to challenge under Rafa. ****ing crap mate.
Any change now will just put us further back.

[Craig_H]

And you say this after the first time we have been in a position to challenge under Rafa. ****ing crap mate.
Any change now will just put us further back.

Our challenge has died before March mate. This is the best we can do under Rafa, in my view. If there's evidence to suggest otherwise, i'm all ears.

I dont think the RIGHT change would set us back at all.

Bring in someone who can get the maximum out of the squad we have - and we'll win it.

[rezaeos]

Our challenge has died before March mate. This is the best we can do under Rafa, in my view. If there's evidence to suggest otherwise, i'm all ears.

I dont think the RIGHT change would set us back at all.

Bring in someone who can get the maximum out of the squad we have - and we'll win it.

Any suggestions buddy? I'm sad to say 2nd in the Prem is about as good as anyone could do under our circumstances. With the exception of Gerrard, Torres, Reina and Xabi (possibly Mascharano and Jamie) none of our players could get into Utd or Chelsea sides. I am hopefull for the future with some young talent with Skertle and Agger looking good.

[lucas]

Our inability to win more than half our home games is what's cost us our title bid, not Howard Webb.

I know. I was just so pissed off with that decision. I hate the way everything just goes their way.

[Craig_H]

Any suggestions buddy? I'm sad to say 2nd in the Prem is about as good as anyone could do under our circumstances. With the exception of Gerrard, Torres, Reina and Xabi (possibly Mascharano and Jamie) none of our players could get into Utd or Chelsea sides. I am hopefull for the future with some young talent with Skertle and Agger looking good.

I obviously disagree. Regarding who'd get into who's side, it doesnt mean anything, because it all depends on who's strong where.

Scholes and Carrick are great players, but neither would get into our side. Doesnt mean much though.

As for suggestions - i've said all along, Jose Mourinho. He gets the best out of his players more often than not and i'm convinced he'd win the title for us. Only my opinion, of course, but hey, that's all i can give.

[DannyMan2006]

Our challenge has died before March mate. This is the best we can do under Rafa, in my view. If there's evidence to suggest otherwise, i'm all ears.

I dont think the RIGHT change would set us back at all.

Bring in someone who can get the maximum out of the squad we have - and we'll win it.

That's progress from November/December though.

This season we are about two more wins (instead of draws) away from a SERIOUS title challenge. In my very humble opinion that makes us one fantastic attacking signing from being contenders.

Of course I would also suggest that last seasons Torres would have seen us clear at the top, but we can not rely on him and Gerrard. In my opinion the player we need is a RW, who can unlock teams with a bit of magic.

And considering the RW Benitez has attempted to sign down the years it does make me bitter about Parry. A Simao or Alves this year would have made a huge difference IMO.

Shame Babel has gone of the boil really.

[rezaeos]

I obviously disagree. Regarding who'd get into who's side, it doesnt mean anything, because it all depends on who's strong where.

Scholes and Carrick are great players, but neither would get into our side. Doesnt mean much though.

As for suggestions - i've said all along, Jose Mourinho. He gets the best out of his players more often than not and i'm convinced he'd win the title for us. Only my opinion, of course, but hey, that's all i can give.

The advantage the scum have over us is that S.A.F. has managed to bring in a steady supply of high caliber players while shipping out the trash (Howard, Saha, Neville to neverton, Butt to the barcodes) with relative ease. He's paid top Dollar for what he needs. Rafa has had to scrape the bottom of the wallet to pay for bargains.

As for Jose, I like what he did at Chelsea and told Roman how he sees things. He is a very capable manager; maybe one of the best. But he would never put up with what Rafa has had to put up with.

[Craig_H]

The advantage the scum have over us is that S.A.F. has managed to bring in a steady supply of high caliber players while shipping out the trash (Howard, Saha, Neville to neverton, Butt to the barcodes) with relative ease. He's paid top Dollar for what he needs. Rafa has had to scrape the bottom of the wallet to pay for bargains.

As for Jose, I like what he did at Chelsea and told Roman how he sees things. He is a very capable manager; maybe one of the best. But he would never put up with what Rafa has had to put up with.

I have no time for this myth. Rafa's spent big.

[rezaeos]

I have no time for this myth. Rafa's spent big.

Fair point but from what we've learned(Parry and co. having the last say on how the money is to be spent) cash was made available in dribs and drabs. Why didn't they make a lump sum available to pay for other class players such as Xabi and Torres? Why did they spend 20 Million on Keane and not 18 on Barry?

[Rigadon]

I have no time for this myth. Rafa's spent big.

It’s embarrassing when Liverpool fans use the excuse of ‘no money’ to cover up Rafa’s failings. £40m on Keane, Babel and Pennant would suggest otherwise. I’m surprised the same people haven’t congratulated Rafa for all our ‘successful’ signings and blamed Parry for all our ‘unsuccessful’ signings!

[Rigadon]

Fair point but from what we've learned(Parry and co. having the last say on how the money is to be spent) cash was made available in dribs and drabs. Why didn't they make a lump sum available to pay for other class players such as Xabi and Torres? Why did they spend 20 Million on Keane and not 18 on Barry?

Because he sold a striker (Crouch) and failed to sell a midfielder (Alonso). Why buy a midfielder to replace a striker? Mind you, we are talking about Rafa!

[MrMichael]

Fair point but from what we've learned(Parry and co. having the last say on how the money is to be spent) cash was made available in dribs and drabs. Why didn't they make a lump sum available to pay for other class players such as Xabi and Torres? Why did they spend 20 Million on Keane and not 18 on Barry?

I tend to agree with your wider points in this thread, although about the Barry thing - do you think his signing would have corrected our flaws this season? It might have made a difference to the general mood around the club, and he is a quality player who delivers a great ball from set pieces (something we sorely lack), but he would have replaced Alonso, who has been one of our best performers this year, and he isn't a really creative or skillfull attacking force, which is what we've been lacking in all these poor draws against "lesser" teams.

Had Rafa been pulling out all the stops to bring in someone of the like of Diego say (not necessarily him specifically) and it had been blocked by the club, then I think, looking at how the games have gone this year, we could say that Rafa tried to correct our biggest failing and so blame the board/Parry/whoever. But I just don't think the fans can buy the lack of Gareth Barry as an excuse for our consistent attacking deficiencies.