Post Match - Boro

[MrMichael]

As i said to you in the game thread, it's upto the manager to lift the players, give them belief and get the best out of them. Rafa doesnt do this.

A manager's role isnt independent of this task.

You know full well this wouldnt be a problem under JM.

I genuinely don't think he'd take the job and I'm seriously bored of idly speculating about him specifically.

I just think the senior players need to take more responsibility for the way we collapsed mentally than most people seem to be attributing in their thirst for Rafa's blood. If we'd continued to play as we started after they scored there would not have been an issue at all.

[saj]

Lucas' hair looked good

[kingfunk]

Confused. I love the man but it's not working. We will challenge for the CL every season and that is marvellous, truly marvellous, but we want at least a genuine title challenge. We have no divine right to win it and we are where we should be, but it kills me to see us play as poorly as this. We're a shambles, everywhere you look - on and off the pitch - we're a shambles.

If it takes us to finish outside the top four to get rid of the owners, im on for that.
As for Rafa, I jist dont know anymore, actually he has to go too. Liverpool FC needs a flush out from top to bottom.

[Craig_H]

I know every fan says he wants the league more than anything else blah blah.

But every league game at Anfield you can hear a pin drop yet in the CL its the opposite. Maybe thats Rafas fault for not getting the fans up for it?

Will you turn to any possible thing to absolve the manager of any blame for anything?

Maybe if we were in a title race and there was some genuine hope, the fans would have more to get excited about.

We should, according to your post, accept league mediocrity, because the fans arent as noisy?

Ok then.

[Joe King]

We aren't a title challenging side. We will get third which many of the RCDNW brigade will claim is progress, which strictly speaking is however from a position of strength at the start of the year, to finish potentially ten points at the end of the season (one point better than last season) is unacceptable. We should be challenging not imploding at the turn of the year. We simply rely far too much on two players whilst United have Berbatov, Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Giggs who can all win them a match.

This was the season where we should have marked our authority on the league and gone on to win it. United struggled at the start, Arsenal are simply Arsenal, Chelsea haven't been terrific. Next season, Villa will get better, City will spend better and get a better manager, United and Chelsea will get stronger. Don't be surprised if Benitez's ambition is to finish fourth next season.

[pondus]

In terms of our performances, yes.

In terms of the squad we have, no. The squad is better than this, but Rafa simply cant get the best out of them on anything like a consistent basis.

I think our squad is far from good enough. We have a great first eleven when everybody is fit, but when we have a couple of injuries and rotate two or three players everyone can see it's not good enough.

[kingfunk]

Lucas' hair looked good

I heard the rest of it is sellataped to his balls? might be a rumour.

[SimonNo7]

Lucas' hair looked good

Well it’s about the only thing that did!

[Big-Red-Ed]

I was watching the game on a streamed version of setanta. They kept repeating that all of their sources at the club have said that despite the result in madrid that rafa is even more likely to leave either before the season's end or in the summer at the latest. Just before the start of the second half their studio guy accidently on purpose said that mourinho would be the new manager!
What the feck is going on. There is definetly sonmething going on and it is obviously translating to the players because they were pure ****e.

[aa4f4fsd47]

I believe is Liverpool early challenge to the throne that has given Man Utd the much confidence in having that winning run, maybe the scums will feel more pressure now and their winning streak may snap when it is Chelsea's turns to challenge them for the title.

[Craig_H]

I genuinely don't think he'd take the job and I'm seriously bored of idly speculating about him specifically.

I just think the senior players need to take more responsibility for the way we collapsed mentally than most people seem to be attributing in their thirst for Rafa's blood. If we'd continued to play as we started after they scored there would not have been an issue at all.

Wouldnt there? Some of them couldnt hit a cow's arse mate.

Let's be blunt though, even if we'd scored and won today, the same problems are there.

And i'm speculating about him specifically because he's the best manager in the world, when it comes to the specific problem about mentality. The solution to the problem you describe is JM's forte.

[wiw]

The saddest thing for me is that now the title race is over, we'll no doubt go on a decent run and start playing well, finishing 4/5 points behind Utd no doubt

[SimonNo7]

Don't be surprised if Benitez's ambition is to finish fourth next season.

As I said in the match thread I am actually starting to think he won’t be our manager at the start of next season. I have just got a feeling he will not sign his new contract and will go at the end of this season.

[Craig_H]

I think our squad is far from good enough. We have a great first eleven when everybody is fit, but when we have a couple of injuries and rotate two or three players everyone can see it's not good enough.

Ok, if we take on board that the 'fringe' players are far from good enough, i wonder who is to blame for spending fortunes on them.

[corbylpfc]

no knee jerk reaction here! Trust me ! Yanks out parry out RAFA get out and bring all your duds with you ! Its your team,your squad and they reflect you ! Today was the worst I've seen in years ! Our squad us terrible, I mean his squad is terrible ! He's had long enough and his dealings in the transfer market is embarrassing to say the least ! Time to clean house ! He will never come to grips with the league ! And **** Europe, we want the league ! Out you go rafa and someone BANG the door behind him ! Pure and utter ****e !