Finally transferred his Valencian flavour?

[Elvoz]

More like when Torres and Gerrard were fully fit and back up front together.

[magicalbarnes]

More like when Torres and Gerrard were fully fit and back up front together.

I agree with that but it just clicked when we played Gerrard behind Torres.

Keane just looked like a square peg in both positions. A case of 'jack of all trades, master of none'

[Baldemort]

I think some of it is to do with a lot of the background **** with power struggles and player and manager contracts being sorted at last.

There is no way that all of those issues combined would not have had some effect on our performances.

[Craig_H]

I think some of it is to do with a lot of the background **** with power struggles and player and manager contracts being sorted at last.

There is no way that all of those issues combined would not have had some effect on our performances.

Not so sure. I really dont think that boardroom issues are on the players' minds when they step onto the field.

[BigChief]

Benayoun = Aimar?

Never would have thought it a year ago

I did. He was just never given a chance behind Torres/Kuyt.

[Baldemort]

Not so sure. I really dont think that boardroom issues are on the players' minds when they step onto the field.

It's not just the boardroom though is it mate? Well, not in my opinion. Rafa's future was far from certain, and it has since been made public that he asked Dirk to hold off on signing his contract until his own was sorted. Then there was the whole Keane and Parry fiasco. We had all of this plus two warring owners at the helm of a club up for sale. I'm sure all of this didn't help.

[Craig_H]

It's not just the boardroom though is it mate? Well, not in my opinion. Rafa's future was far from certain, and it has since been made public that he asked Dirk to hold off on signing his contract until his own was sorted. Then there was the whole Keane and Parry fiasco. We had all of this plus two warring owners at the helm of a club up for sale. I'm sure all of this didn't help.

When you add it all up and put it that way, perhaps there was a subconscious effect, yeah.

In their minds though, all they're concentrating on is the game. Subconsciously though, perhaps you have a point.

[Exiled_red]

I'd like to think that this is the way we'd be playing regularly from the start of next season, although I have me doubts I'm not having dig at Rafa or the team but we did a similar thing at the end of last season. Playing our best attacking football of the season, and it stopped and slowed down at the start of this season.

For some reason we seem to start the season defensively and become more attacking towards the end of the season. I don't know if this is a deliberate tactic or something related to fitness or the way we train or the players getting used to one another (or the way Rafa is trying to get us to play. But I just thought it was an observation worth making.

[Craig_H]

I think it's because we leave ourselves so much to do in the latter part of the season, that we have no choice but to 'go for it'.

[BG1973]

[QUOTE=Craig_H;1332393]

And more importantly, will this be the permanent 'new Liverpool' going into next season? Or have we only been playing like this simply because we've known that we've had to win virtually every game?
[QUOTE]

I think this could be a point. Hopefully rafa analyses it and sees that by trying to win every game like we have you score more points that not trying to lose a few.

This 'form' could however also be as simple as who we are playing. we haven't played any teams that came for a point except blackburn and we scored very early making that an open game.

and by the way we have played well for most of the season.

[Craig_H]

I'm sure Newcastle came looking for a point.

[BG1973]

I'm sure Newcastle came looking for a point.

don't think so. they had three forwards and were pressing forwards early on. i reckon shearer thought fcuk it i'm probably not going to get anything from this one anyway we may as well go fo it.

[Tee]

I think it is time we stopped looking at Rafa's Valencia 'blueprint' and accepted that he is creating a different beast with Liverpool. Surely he has evolved as a Manager since leaving Valencia and has many new and different ideas, no? Just a thought.

[Neil Young]

I think it is time we stopped looking at Rafa's Valencia 'blueprint' and accepted that he is creating a different beast with Liverpool. Surely he has evolved as a Manager since leaving Valencia and has many new and different ideas, no? Just a thought.

Still, if it takes him five years to "wise up" etc. then maybe he really is as stupid as some people seem to think.

[Rigadon]

IMO we’re only playing this way because we have too. We seem to do better (under Rafa) when we’re chasing the Premiership or a final (Milan, West Ham).