Ignoring our recent ****ty form, and also putting aside the whole ownership debate (if that's remotely possible), I think that I'm beginning to agree with Rafa's thought process in the whole Barry / Alonso / Aquilani / more attacking formation approach.
We all know that in the summer of 2008 Rafa wanted shot of Alonso, and wanted Barry, but ended up with Keane instead. I think that his reasons at that point were exactly the same as his reason for letting Alonso go last summer, namely that he could see that the existing formation and approach simply weren't going to bring success in the league.
If anything, Alonso's (and Liverpool's) great season last season confirmed that fact, because despite having our best season in 19 years, losing the least number of games of any team who didn't win the title, and coming within a few points of glory, the fact is that we still didn't win it. We rode our luck outrageously at times, and several players had outstanding seasons, Alonso in particular. We didn't lose a game against the rest of the Big 4, and beat Chelsea and United home and away. United were really poor at times, as were Chelsea, while Arsenal suffered some embarrassing defeats. And despite of all of those things, we still didn't win it.
The fact is that with that squad, playing that style of football, we failed to win the title when the wind was very much behind us. You can argue that not having Torres for much of the season made the difference, but had Alonso played like he did in 07/08, Torres wouldn't have made the difference (as indeed he didn't in that season). We can't expect every player to be fit for every game, or every piece of luck to go our way, but last season came as close to that as it is ever likely to, and we still didn't win the title.
So what to do? Rafa could have kept things as they were, making sure of a place in the top four but knowing that others would have to lose the title, as we didn't have the tools to win it. Or he could do what he's done, which is try, within a limited budget, to change certain personnel, and the style of play, to allow us to win more games, and to have a real chance of winning the title. I for one applaud the sentiment, even if the players have let him down so far.
We have to accept that this is a transitional season to a degree, and one where if we qualify for the CL and have a good run in one of the cups I'll be content. Not happy, but content. Whoever the owners may be, January and next summer are critical in adding the right personnel to the squad to fit with Rafa's new approach. The fact that he's taken this route might be an indication that he thinks that he'll receive the backing from whoever to make it happen. I certainly hope so. But as far as the changes he has made go, while I might not like the current run of form, I think that they are totally necessary if we are to genuinely stand a chance of winning the title. Alonso was and is a great player, but he wasn't the right one to orchestrate bringing home number 19. I really hope that Aquilani, and whoever else we might add, are.
We all know that in the summer of 2008 Rafa wanted shot of Alonso, and wanted Barry, but ended up with Keane instead. I think that his reasons at that point were exactly the same as his reason for letting Alonso go last summer, namely that he could see that the existing formation and approach simply weren't going to bring success in the league.
If anything, Alonso's (and Liverpool's) great season last season confirmed that fact, because despite having our best season in 19 years, losing the least number of games of any team who didn't win the title, and coming within a few points of glory, the fact is that we still didn't win it. We rode our luck outrageously at times, and several players had outstanding seasons, Alonso in particular. We didn't lose a game against the rest of the Big 4, and beat Chelsea and United home and away. United were really poor at times, as were Chelsea, while Arsenal suffered some embarrassing defeats. And despite of all of those things, we still didn't win it.
The fact is that with that squad, playing that style of football, we failed to win the title when the wind was very much behind us. You can argue that not having Torres for much of the season made the difference, but had Alonso played like he did in 07/08, Torres wouldn't have made the difference (as indeed he didn't in that season). We can't expect every player to be fit for every game, or every piece of luck to go our way, but last season came as close to that as it is ever likely to, and we still didn't win the title.
So what to do? Rafa could have kept things as they were, making sure of a place in the top four but knowing that others would have to lose the title, as we didn't have the tools to win it. Or he could do what he's done, which is try, within a limited budget, to change certain personnel, and the style of play, to allow us to win more games, and to have a real chance of winning the title. I for one applaud the sentiment, even if the players have let him down so far.
We have to accept that this is a transitional season to a degree, and one where if we qualify for the CL and have a good run in one of the cups I'll be content. Not happy, but content. Whoever the owners may be, January and next summer are critical in adding the right personnel to the squad to fit with Rafa's new approach. The fact that he's taken this route might be an indication that he thinks that he'll receive the backing from whoever to make it happen. I certainly hope so. But as far as the changes he has made go, while I might not like the current run of form, I think that they are totally necessary if we are to genuinely stand a chance of winning the title. Alonso was and is a great player, but he wasn't the right one to orchestrate bringing home number 19. I really hope that Aquilani, and whoever else we might add, are.
good attempt at being positive 
- haha but right now i reckon 9 out 10 liverpool fans are ****ing fed up 
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