Blackburn Away. Post Match Thread

[Exiled_red]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news...cle246381.html

Blackburn too 'physical' a place to risk Alberto Aquilani, claims Rafa Benitez after Liverpool's 0-0 draw

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted his disappointment with Liverpool's goalless draw at Ewood Park but defended his decision not to bring on Alberto Aquilani.

He said: "We did not play well in the first half, but after the break we were much better. We were certainly better in possession than we had been in the last game when we won at Everton.

"We need to win, though, in these situations. We are getting better but we know we have to do better."

Benitez revealed that Liverpool are likely to have Fernando Torres fit for the Champions League match on Wednesday against Fiorentina, with Alberto Aquilani also expected to start the match.

Of his decision to keep Aquilani on the bench at Ewood Park, Benitez said: "He is fit now, the ankle injury has healed. But I feel this was a difficult, physical place to come and not the right time to throw him on.

"He will be better getting his chance in a home match with our fans behind him. It is a difficult decision when someone is not fully match fit, he could make a mistake and it would set him back."

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce revealed that he couldn't resist a return to the dug-out on his first game back since undergoing heart surgery.

Allardyce had spent much of the match in the directors' box following his heart surgery last week, but he ventured down to the dug-out for the closing minutes.

He said: "I felt okay until the last few minutes, they were a heart-stopper.

"But in those minutes we could have won it. Nikola Kalinic was through, and should have at least got his effort on target. He was flattened by (Jose) Reina just outside the box, but he still should have rolled the shot on target. "

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Lots and lots of extenuating circumstances coming together to make it a truly **** season so far.

Which started poorly before a ball had even been kicked, with the reduction of 20mill off the managers budget, money he had no doubt already spent in his head.

Instead of investing in a good title challenge they did the exact opposite, then injuries came along and truly threw a spanner in the works, we are still recovering.

yep scum get da breaks, we dont look at yesterday they have 3midfielders and 1 defender in a back 4........but they then get to play the worse team in the premiership by a long way at the moment.

we needed the gods to be shining on us for us to stand any chance,
I knew the day we paired Lucas/masher in the middle we have no chance while in the long term Aquiliani will prve a great buy i do blame rafa for not seeing Lucas/Masher combo would never work which due to extenuating circumstances he had no choice as Gerrard got injured

[red g]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news...cle246381.html

iin a way i respect that, Rafa knows his job is on the line and he still does whats best for the long term, taakes a truly strong manager to do that.

Obviously he knows trhey cant afford to sack him anyway

[Bender]

Blackburn aren't that much better...rather than what seems to be excuses.....it's the players and the manager who takes the blame..........i mean playing lucas and mascher in the same team........he has his own ideas on how to bore the opposition ......There is now alot more dissaprooval of rafa from reds fans than there ever was before........

[Nicey]

A lot of negativity on here today look at the positives 6 games unbeaten 3 clean sheets on the bounce Kuyt was **** though so was reira and Johnson was ****ing awesome and Aqualini will start on Wednesday

Nicely done mate We need to realize we are having a tough season, lets not lose the head ... Still the first half was piss poor .. a lot of heads dropping at the moment ... We need to put 3 wins back to back to get some momentum back ... Bloody relegated to supporting the Chavs .. I feel dirty and I will have most likely lost a bet with my Brother inlaw ..Dinner for 4 at the fat duck next summer which is not cheap .. still tasty way to lose ... what with Ireland getting dicked over and out horrible run, injuries, american windbag owners and united yet again managing to get results I am totally ****ing deflated

[MrsB]

brum are only 3 points behind us. says it all really

Depressing.

[Nicey]

Blackburn aren't that much better...rather than what seems to be excuses.....it's the players and the manager who takes the blame..........i mean playing lucas and mascher in the same team........he has his own ideas on how to bore the opposition ......There is now alot more dissaprooval of rafa from reds fans than there ever was before........

Well he is here for the long haul and we should keep that in mind ... I am not saying we should accept or be happy about the teams/ clubs performance but lets not go on a witch hunt

[cream]

Depressing.

And Sunderland will be a point behind if they win there game in hand.

[DannyMan2006]

Well he is here for the long haul and we should keep that in mind ... I am not saying we should accept or be happy about the teams/ clubs performance but lets not go on a witch hunt

We can't afford to sack him and no TOP manager would likely want the job. Sure, there would be any number of second rate managers applying for the post, but none in the top bracket, which is what we need.

I see no point in making a judgement until the end of the season. I think he has the players to turn our season around and we just need a bit of luck injury wise.

When you are winning games players can come in and out with little effect, but when you are losing games a team will struggle without its better players.

I think we hit rock bottom and are slowly coming back into form. We're getting clean sheets again and we are not getting beat. We haven't lost since October so at least that's one positive.

Hopefully Torres will be back for the next league game and we will finally have a match fit Aquilani. Bring in a new striker in January and I think we can get back on track.

[Bender]

Well he is here for the long haul and we should keep that in mind ... I am not saying we should accept or be happy about the teams/ clubs performance but lets not go on a witch hunt

No not a witch hunt mate .....Rafa is his own worst enemy......the best thing he did was get that new contract.......his words that it was too physical a game for Aqualani is rubbish.......there's gonna be a dozen more games like this and tbh were hardly playing like brazil ourselves......i can't be assed to watch us play were so devoid of skill etc etc .......no passion in the players and that is the managers fault/responsibility ....now if you'll excuse me am gonna drink a cup of razor blades

[Exiled_red]

He HAS to play Aquilani in midweek Fiorentina really have nothing to play for, so the game shouldn't be too high tempo or physical. Aquilani has experience of playing against them previously from his time in Italy and the game is at Anfield.

[BobTheCharmer]

We can't afford to sack him and no TOP manager would likely want the job.

don't kid yourself on. they'd be plenty wanting a crack at restoring one of the most famous clubs in the world.

You can rule out Fergie, Wenger & the chelsea manager for obvious reasons.

[DannyMan2006]

don't kid yourself on. they'd be plenty wanting a crack at restoring one of the most famous clubs in the world.

You can rule out Fergie, Wenger & the chelsea manager for obvious reasons.

Not without a big cash kitty. Not the TOP managers. You may get a Mancini or a Klinsmann, but you will not get a Mourinho or a Hiddink. Liverpool is the poisoned chalice at present.

Benitez was considered one of the best and brightest managers around when he came to the club, but look how far his stature has fallen since just last season. Five months a go he could walk on water, now he'd drowned in a kiddies play pool.

His exemplary record in the Champions League is up in smoke and is in danger of failing to achieve the minimum requirement. He needs a strong finish to the season to keep his job IMO, but I do think it's something Liverpool are capable of doing.

[cream]

don't kid yourself on. they'd be plenty wanting a crack at restoring one of the most famous clubs in the world.

You can rule out Fergie, Wenger & the chelsea manager for obvious reasons.

And who would these be then?

[Vermilion]

And who would these be then?

The same two that are always mentioned, Hiddink and Maureen, people trot out their names like it's nailed on we'd get either, and that they would do a better job with the same money, imo neither are nailed on to take the job or do consistently better on our budget.