Post Match - Boro

[JohnDoe]

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

When we're under no pressure, we play well, but if we can't handle the pressure, we'll never be able to call ourselves champions.

[pondus]

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.

I would guess that would be the managers responsibility.

[Red Chilli]

honestly how do we go from great to **** in 3 days

Because Rafa doesn't have what it take s to bulid a side capable which can win the Premiership.

Nothing has changed this week (except Parry). I knew we were capable of beating Real, and that we were also capable of losing to Boro.

We've been doing it for years under rafa.

[Liverpool]

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.

I do beleive he is to blame, I dont think the fault is him not getting the players up for it but rather his rotation policy, if we had a stronger squad rotation would be great but it isnt and we cant afford to chop and change as much he would like.

[Assassin]

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 !

Drama queen!!!

[Craig_H]

I do beleive he is to blame, I dont think the fault is him not getting the players up for it but rather his rotation policy, if we had a stronger squad rotation would be great but it isnt and we cant afford to chop and change as much he would like.

I'm not sure though.

Even those fringe players are good enough to beat your Hull Citys, your Stoke Citys etc etc.

Teams with worse players than our fringe lot manage to beat them, so why cant we?

For me, the manager just doenst get the players believing, he doesnt get the best out of them and that is the biggest part of a problem which, admittedly, has several different angles to it.

[wiw]

When we're under no pressure, we play well, but if we can't handle the pressure, we'll never be able to call ourselves champions.

Of course I really think the fans are to blame, almost as much as the players. They haven't helped this season at home AT ALL, they've made it worse if anything

[Robster007]

I must be extremely dejected because the idea of Mourinho being our manager doesn't look so bad after all.

I expect it from Craig, but................

[EST_1892]

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.

I would have been mortified at the start of this year to even have to contemplate starting all over again with a new manager. Now, I'm not that bothered.

We have a good first team, or spine of players that any manager would be happy with. Things wouldn't need to change as much as it did say from when Rafa took over GH's squad.

It's just all baffling as to what is going on and I can't be arsed with it anymore. Football takes a back seat with me for the rest of the season.

[Liverpool]

I'm not sure though.

Even those fringe players are good enough to beat your Hull Citys, your Stoke Citys etc etc.

Teams with worse players than our fringe lot manage to beat them, so why cant we?

For me, the manager just doenst get the players believing, he doesnt get the best out of them and that is the biggest part of a problem which, admittedly, has several different angles to it.

We have more belief than under Houllier, atleast we can comeback from behind.

Also Rafas style of keeping a game tight is harming us, why not go all out because we know we have more class than most so if a game has been opened up you'd have to fancy us.

[Exiled_red]

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.

We have IMO 9 very good players, but we need two new wingers match winner type players, as aside from Gerrard and Torres we have no other creative match winners. We rely on those two to create changes (and score goals) we need wide players who can open tight defences, create chances and chip in with goals

[JohnDoe]

Of course I really think the fans are to blame, almost as much as the players. They haven't helped this season at home AT ALL, they've made it worse if anything

The team is just not good enough. The fans have little to do with this.

[Craig_H]

I expect it from Craig, but................

Answer the point though Robster. If you dont like the suggestion, fair enough, but say why.

Are you happy with our performances at this stage of Rafa's reign?

[Craig_H]

We have more belief than under Houllier, atleast we can comeback from behind.

Also Rafas style of keeping a game tight is harming us, why not go all out because we know we have more class than most so if a game has been opened up you'd have to fancy us.

You're preaching to the converted here, mate.

[JohnDoe]

I expect it from Craig, but................

He'll definitely get more out of this team in the league, pains me to say it, but in my opinion there's no arguing with that.

I know, I must be really depressed.