Pepe and Nando Stick up For Rafa

[Mike]

Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina have moved to offer their support to under-fire boss Rafa Benitez.

Benitez has seen his position at Anfield come under further scrutiny following their elimination from the UEFA Champions League in midweek.

Liverpool have won just two of their past 11 competitive matches and go into this weekend's Merseyside derby needing to get back on track in the Premier League if they are to finish in the top four and clinch a spot in next season's Champions League.

Torres, who is battling to be fit for the showdown with Everton as he struggles with a groin problem, believes Benitez is the man to turn things round at Anfield and has called on everyone at the club to stick together.

"Benitez has shown that he is the right man to take Liverpool forward," Torres said.

Stick Together

"When the club has needed to be strong it always has been. Now is the time for everybody to stick together from the manager right down to the lowliest member of staff because above all else we want to make our wonderful fans happy with our performances and results.

"We must be united to finish as high as possible in the Premier League. I am convinced that we will end up in the top four. We also have high hopes for the FA Cup and the Europa League. At this time, this tournament has become a goal for the club.

"Nobody expected it [to be knocked out] because this team has shown itself over recent seasons to be very reliable.

"This is a competition that we won in 2005 and on another occasion [2007] we got to the final. Since I have been with the club we have got to a semi-final and a quarter-final."

Reina also dismissed suggestions that Benitez has lost the support of the players at Liverpool.

Support

"Benitez has 100 per cent credibility and support among the players," said Reina. "He is a great coach and he knows how to get the best out of his players.

"He has done important things for Liverpool and will continue to do so. When he is under pressure, that's when he brings out the best in himself. He is perfectly capable of turning the situation around at Liverpool.

"The fans know that, for a number of reasons, results are not good now but they will be again. We need a bit of good luck for things to get back to normal: we have had so many players injured - like Torres, Benayoun and Riera."

Reina also pointed to the absence of Torres through injury as a major reason for Liverpool's struggles.

"We all know that Torres at 70 per cent fit is still better than lots of strikers on the planet at 100 per cent," added Reina.

"It's important for us that he recovers and recovers fully. Liverpool are one team with Torres and another, different team without him.

"It's not that we depend on him but he is very important because he inspires respect in the opposition."

[Shaggy]

You ****in' tell 'em lads

Those who want Rafa out ought to just pause for thought - if Rafa goes, Pepe goes and so does Nando. Rightly or wrongly and whether you like it or not, that (IMO ) is a most likely scenario.

[Guest]

What's our motto anyway? You'll Never Walk Alone .... Seems some fans don't ****ing even know what that means.

[Tee]

What's our motto anyway? You'll Never Walk Alone .... Seems some fans don't ****ing even know what that means.

Have a tissue... FFS.

This is an internet forum where discussions are open and varied. If we cannot discuss the Manager and his work in a period where we have genuinely struggled than what is the point of this site?

I am criticising Rafa but I still believe he is the best person for the job right now. But my loyalty lies with Liverpool FC - Rafa, Torres, Pepe and whoever else are not, and will not, ever be bigger than this club.

We are struggling for many reasons and this seasons outcome will have a massive impact on the future of this club.

[Guest]

Have a tissue... FFS.

This is an internet forum where discussions are open and varied. If we cannot discuss the Manager and his work in a period where we have genuinely struggled than what is the point of this site?

I am criticising Rafa but I still believe he is the best person for the job right now. But my loyalty lies with Liverpool FC - Rafa, Torres, Pepe and whoever else are not, and will not, ever be bigger than this club.

We are struggling for many reasons and this seasons outcome will have a massive impact on the future of this club.

There isn't any debate whatsoever when journalists are reporting erroneous 'facts' about Rafa and the way he is managing our team. If they had some serious grounds for doing so I wouldn't be in a position to refute them, but there's absolutely no case in their favour.

[Tee]

There isn't any debate whatsoever when journalists are reporting erroneous 'facts' about Rafa and the way he is managing our team. If they had some serious grounds for doing so I wouldn't be in a position to refute them, but there's absolutely no case in their favour.

Why don't you start threads about these erroneous 'facts' and set the record straight for those fans who obviously fall for this bs.

[Guest]

Why don't you start threads about these erroneous 'facts' and set the record straight for those fans who obviously fall for this bs.

Because there has been enough facts and claims made in those threads alone to refute them. The media are having a vendetta against Rafa. I'd like to ALL our fans standing for him instead of seeing the tripe which has been posted in here, which at times have been laughable really.

For example I still don't get it when people can't digest the simple principles such as 'net spent'.

[Kenneth]

Have a tissue... FFS.

This is an internet forum where discussions are open and varied. If we cannot discuss the Manager and his work in a period where we have genuinely struggled than what is the point of this site?

I am criticising Rafa but I still believe he is the best person for the job right now. But my loyalty lies with Liverpool FC - Rafa, Torres, Pepe and whoever else are not, and will not, ever be bigger than this club.

We are struggling for many reasons and this seasons outcome will have a massive impact on the future of this club.

[BobTheCharmer]

You ****in' tell 'em lads

Those who want Rafa out ought to just pause for thought - if Rafa goes, Pepe goes and so does Nando. Rightly or wrongly and whether you like it or not, that (IMO ) is a most likely scenario.

So they're only here for Rafa? **** them off then. We pay their wages not Rafa. If someone were to replace Rafa and we were successful do you really think they'd **** off?

[wildman]

What's our motto anyway? You'll Never Walk Alone .... Seems some fans don't ****ing even know what that means.

people are to quick to judge and need to look at the bigger picture becuase if he goes it could be catasprohic.

Rafa needs our support now more than ever not the fans giving hima hard time we're better than that or at least I thought we were.

[ex_KT_red4ever]

Teams go through bad patches... to suggest Rafa is a bad manager is wrong. To pick on aspects of how the team plays (Zonal over Man Marking) again, in my opinion is wrong. We've been decimated with injuries to players - who if they'd been 100% fit - then the outcome of a number of matches would have been different to how they've played out (i.e Lyon in the ECL) - but we know how things currently stand. I back Rafa. I know this is a forum where people can express their own opinion.

And its not for me to stick it down your throat 'that you're wrong' if you're ANTI RAFA.

I'm for judging him at the end of the season.

Last May we were battering teams. The summer break, the loss of Alonso and the absence of Aquilani - factored with injuries to Gerrard, Alonso, Yossi, Reira, Agger, Skrtel as well as the lack of form at the start of the season from a number of players hasn't helped this campaign one bit.

I'm for dealing in facts. We're out of the Champions League. I did think that we had an outside chance in the league - but those thoughts are no long gone. We're in a race for 4th. We have the FA Cup and Europa Cup. And I will be backing the team till the end of the season.

We have a game over at Goodison on Sunday - and one we need to win. A convincing display will settle the nerves and give the team some much needed confidence.

Now is the time to show support.

But hey, that just my opinion.

I'm backing the team and the manager.

[Bender]

your right was thinking about this last night .......Rafa has made progress since he has been here,last season we were top scores i think......this season Alonso and injuries+ poor form have ruined or season........Rafa doesn't deserve this criticism even though some of his decisions do border on being crazy
These days Football fans and chairman seek quick fixes in football

[Shaggy]

So they're only here for Rafa? **** them off then. We pay their wages not Rafa. If someone were to replace Rafa and we were successful do you really think they'd **** off?

I don't think they'd hang around for long enough for us to be successful under anybody else.

[DannyMan2006]

I don't think they'd hang around for long enough for us to be successful under anybody else.

I disagree with that Shaggy, as both are on long term contracts.

However, it would be quite easy for a new man to come in and sell the want away players so that they could bring in their own players. Then when they leave the new man coming in has that excuse and keeps the fans onside.