Graeme Souness has his say

[Guest]

Well done, I wondered how long it would be before someone would come out with that rubbish.

Every team has its day, thats why there are giant killing shocks in the FA Cup and why Barca lost last night....

You put this team without Gerrard and Torres out all season and it would struggle to stay in the top 10

It's not just down to Gerrard and Torres FFS, you're wearing blinkers or what? Carra is underperforming, as well as Masherano. Then we have Johnson who is bedding in at right back (he was not playing tonight), which makes it 5 players for last night alone.

It's been like this since the start of the season. Our most important players aren't performing (Torres took time to come into his stride). All in all this explains our erratic start to this season. Not difficult to understand and to analyse.

I've seen people say that Man. Utd were a one man team, now what? Ronaldo gone (with it 50 or so goals in a season) and they're sitting on top of the league, so I'd say that analysis like yours are a bit simplistic to say the least.

[dom9]

What an absolute crock of ****. To state that a former player and manager can't have a ****ing opinion is pathetic, regardless of his failures as a manager. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and as far as his comments go, we do not have spark without 2 of our best players.

As MrM says, he can say what he likes, but as I say, his opinions on management are not entitled to any form of respect, do to his own shortcomings, particularly with regard to his own time at Liverpool.

If he did ANYTHING other than ruin the club, I might be inclined to listen to him.

[zimbo]

I actually think that Souness often talks more than sense than most as a pundit. His own shortcomings as a manager are pretty much irrelevant in that respect. No-one says Hansen's opinion is worthless yet he hasn't managed so much as a pub team.

I really didn't enjoy hearing it, but I found myself reluctantly agreeing with most of what Souness said.

Hoddle, on the other hand, is a know-nothing bozo.

[FatTony]

It's not just down to Gerrard and Torres FFS, you're wearing blinkers or what? Carra is underperforming, as well as Masherano. Then we have Johnson who is bedding in at right back (he was not playing tonight), which makes it 5 players for last night alone.

It's been like this since the start of the season. Our most important players aren't performing (Torres took time to come into his stride). All in all this explains our erratic start to this season. Not difficult to understand and to analyse.

I've seen people say that Man. Utd were a one man team, now what? Ronaldo gone (with it 50 or so goals in a season) and they're sitting on top of the league, so I'd say that analysis like yours are a bit simplistic to say the least.

No I'm not wearing ****ing blinkers. There are players that are underperforming yes, but even with Mascher and Carra at their best , without Gerrard and Torres we are toothless in attack. Voronin and Ngog...don't make me laugh.

Your analysis is simplistic mate, you're not seeing whats right in front of your eyes, take the Rafa specs off for a second. Our attacking options are weak as feck without those two.

[Maxiedge]

I actually think that Souness often talks more than sense than most as a pundit. His own shortcomings as a manager are pretty much irrelevant in that respect. No-one says Hansen's opinion is worthless yet he hasn't managed so much as a pub team.

I really didn't enjoy hearing it, but I found myself reluctantly agreeing with most of what Souness said.

Hoddle, on the other hand, is a know-nothing bozo.

Have you ever heard Souness say anything positive about us? What about our quite incredible run in second half of last season? Where were his opinions then?

He seems bitter and takes the easy option of knocking us when we're down.

[Guest]

I actually think that Souness often talks more than sense than most as a pundit. His own shortcomings as a manager are pretty much irrelevant in that respect. No-one says Hansen's opinion is worthless yet he hasn't managed so much as a pub team.

I really didn't enjoy hearing it, but I found myself reluctantly agreeing with most of what Souness said.

Hoddle, on the other hand, is a know-nothing bozo.

What did Souness say that was so different? He is basically saying that without Torres and Gerrard we are hopeless and it's all down to Rafa. I've seen, heard this comment being made everywhere since last season, yet Souness chooses to come out at this precise moment (he's been in the hot seat before) and is regurgitating the same tripe.

I find this classless from a bitter man, who achieved nothing but create (whilst he was in charge) a chasm so big between us and United that every manager since then have been struggling to catch up.

It's evident we don't have the same spark when Torres and Gerrard aren't playing, and any team without those two players for large chunks of a season will struggle. But we have managed without them before so the theory that we aren't good enough without them doesn't stand IMO.

It is also nearly impossible to replace both these players. Even United haven't 'replaced' Ronaldo like for like but they are managing somewhat even with '****e' like Carrick and Anderson in their team.

For me the difference is that 5 or 6 of our first teamers aren't performing to their usual level. As soon as they revert back to their usual self, I think we'll be alright.

[MrMichael]

No I'm not wearing ****ing blinkers. There are players that are underperforming yes, but even with Mascher and Carra at their best , without Gerrard and Torres we are toothless in attack. Voronin and Ngog...don't make me laugh.

Your analysis is simplistic mate, you're not seeing whats right in front of your eyes, take the Rafa specs off for a second. Our attacking options are weak as feck without those two.

They are indeed. You could argue they're slightly weak even with those 2.

However, did we lose last night because our attack didn't do its job, or the midfield/defence didn't? Personally i thought both the goals we conceded were very poor. With Masch and Carra at top form (and pulling the players around them up by being so), could we have won that game? I think we would have.

At the moment we have issues right down the spine of our team, from lack of alternatives up front to lack of form nearer the back. The cumulative effect is not pretty to watch

[Guest]

No I'm not wearing ****ing blinkers. There are players that are underperforming yes, but even with Mascher and Carra at their best , without Gerrard and Torres we are toothless in attack. Voronin and Ngog...don't make me laugh.

Your analysis is simplistic mate, you're not seeing whats right in front of your eyes, take the Rafa specs off for a second. Our attacking options are weak as feck without those two.

We don't have a god given right to win everything in each and every season. Rafa is doing alright, some of our main players are just under performing.

I associate this sort of 'knee jerk' reactions to supporters from Newcastle, Spurs & al, not Liverpool fans. Rafa was great for us last season but he's not good anymore? Where's the consistency?

[Guest]

They are indeed. You could argue they're slightly weak even with those 2.

However, did we lose last night because our attack didn't do its job, or the midfield/defence didn't? Personally i thought both the goals we conceded were very poor. With Masch and Carra at top form (and pulling the players around them up by being so), could we have won that game? I think we would have.

At the moment we have issues right down the spine of our team, from lack of alternatives up front to lack of form nearer the back. The cumulative effect is not pretty to watch

We still managed to score one goal tonight and it should have been sufficient for us to win the game. That was our hallmark 2 seasons ago, when we weren't playing well, we were so tight we could close down games.

Our defence has been brittle because as you said, our spine this season has gone missing. Reina is the only one in our defence at the moment who is carrying this team. You could see the frustration in his eyes each time we concede a goal.

We may lack goalscoring opportunities but I would digress. Babel and Benayoun, and even Kuyt are all capable of scoring goals and do a job. Last night one of them scored and that should have been it. Game closed down and a good victory under our belt.

[Vermilion]

bull****.

100 mill net spent over 5 years to build a squad at a time when the best players cost what, 30 mill a piece? That means looking for bargains im afraid.

we can have the same old discussion about money. what WAS lacking last night was passion. That is down to the management team. Where was the energy and spark? put the Man Utd kids out and there'd be a load of that.

so plod plod plod is right but talking about spending is sh1te. the team selected last night, if it was properly up for it and focussed, would have won the match.

This comes from a man from who's reign we have not recovered from in 17 odd years.

If he was ANY good at managing, then he would be entitled to say what he likes, and he would be entitled to some respect.

Fact is he is an apalling manager, who ruined LFC during the 90s. This man bought Paul Stewart, Dean Saunders and the like, and sold Peter Beardsley.

[Vermilion]

We don't have a god given right to win everything in each and every season. Rafa is doing alright, some of our main players are just under performing.

I associate this sort of 'knee jerk' reactions to supporters from Newcastle, Spurs & al, not Liverpool fans. Rafa was great for us last season but he's not good anymore? Where's the consistency?

oh and..

[MrMichael]

We still managed to score one goal tonight and it should have been sufficient for us to win the game. That was our hallmark 2 seasons ago, when we weren't playing well, we were so tight we could close down games.

Our defence has been brittle because as you said, our spine this season has gone missing. Reina is the only one in our defence at the moment who is carrying this team. You could see the frustration in his eyes each time we concede a goal.

We may lack goalscoring opportunities but I would digress. Babel and Benayoun, and even Kuyt are all capable of scoring goals and do a job. Last night one of them scored and that should have been it. Game closed down and a good victory under our belt.

That's pretty much how I saw it

Reina
Carra +
Agger
Masch +
Aquilani
Gerrard
Torres

Fit and on form that looks a really strong spine, and certainly not a 2 man team.

Your choice then of Johnson, Insua, Aurelio, Kuyt, Babel, Benny and Riera to fill the last 4 positions looks quite good.

Or

Reina
Carra -
Skrtel
Masch -
Lucas
Benny
N'gog

As things are right now that's just a disaster in the process of happening whoever else you pick.

[Joe King]

I actually think that Souness often talks more than sense than most as a pundit. His own shortcomings as a manager are pretty much irrelevant in that respect. No-one says Hansen's opinion is worthless yet he hasn't managed so much as a pub team.

I really didn't enjoy hearing it, but I found myself reluctantly agreeing with most of what Souness said.

Hoddle, on the other hand, is a know-nothing bozo.

Besides his backtracking at last seasons Champions League final - that was cringeworthy to say the least.

Have you ever heard Souness say anything positive about us? What about our quite incredible run in second half of last season? Where were his opinions then?

He seems bitter and takes the easy option of knocking us when we're down.

He does have good things to say about Liverpool but that's only after a win which you have to appreciate given his affiliation with the club. He did say last night wasn't a good night for him with the results at both Ibrox and Anfield which shows his admiration, which could also explain why he might seem bitter once Liverpool lose; bit like a few people on forums who are bitter after a loss.

[zimbo]

Have you ever heard Souness say anything positive about us? What about our quite incredible run in second half of last season? Where were his opinions then?

He seems bitter and takes the easy option of knocking us when we're down.

To be fair, it's not his job to be positive about us. He's asked for his opinion, if he can back that up with a realistic argument then that's fair enough. Whether we like what he has to say or not doesn't really matter (other than to us, obviously). In general, I think he provides some interesting insights. That's not the same as agreeing with everything he says, mind. Strachan is another one who make a lot of sense.

As he only seems to be on Sky for Champions League games, his platform for commenting on our league form is lessened. I can't comment on his RTE performances as I've not seen those.

What did Souness say that was so different? He is basically saying that without Torres and Gerrard we are hopeless and it's all down to Rafa. I've seen, heard this comment being made everywhere since last season, yet Souness chooses to come out at this precise moment (he's been in the hot seat before) and is regurgitating the same tripe.

I find this classless from a bitter man, who achieved nothing but create (whilst he was in charge) a chasm so big between us and United that every manager since then have been struggling to catch up.

It's evident we don't have the same spark when Torres and Gerrard aren't playing, and any team without those two players for large chunks of a season will struggle. But we have managed without them before so the theory that we aren't good enough without them doesn't stand IMO.

It is also nearly impossible to replace both these players. Even United haven't 'replaced' Ronaldo like for like but they are managing somewhat even with '****e' like Carrick and Anderson in their team.

For me the difference is that 5 or 6 of our first teamers aren't performing to their usual level. As soon as they revert back to their usual self, I think we'll be alright.

You seem to be contradicting yourself a bit here.

[FatTony]

We don't have a god given right to win everything in each and every season. Rafa is doing alright, some of our main players are just under performing.

I associate this sort of 'knee jerk' reactions to supporters from Newcastle, Spurs & al, not Liverpool fans. Rafa was great for us last season but he's not good anymore? Where's the consistency?

God given right??? Don't make me laugh, we've still spent plenty enough to ensure that we shouldn't be going for a 5th consecutive loss. We've still spent enough that says we should'nt be 9 games into the league with an almost 50% loss rate.

Rafa is not "doing alright" at all. Thats complete and utter toss. Its his team, his tactics and his motivation that sets a team up. Yes we have a few of our best players out, but it was still Rafa's decision to play Aurelio in midfield against Foirentina, his decision to take of our main creative player last night for Voronin, his decision to spend 50% of his transfer budget on a player who's been injured since March and his decision to play a system that means that we'll never be able to keep 2 world class strikers happy at the club.

We heap praise on him when he's achieved, why is it not his fault when things go wrong. I for one support Rafa, I want him to stay at this club for many, many years but I'm not a bloody brainwashed andriod like some people on here who think the guy is beyond critism.

And nobody's talking about this god given right to win the league or european cup, but we are expecting to always be challenging and we're not even doing that at the moment.